Giovanni Visconti (Movistar)

Movistar had no shortage of riders willing to solo to victory on some of the biggest stages of the WorldTour. Nairo Quintana and Rui Costa certainly profited from adopting such a combative style, while Italian star Giovanni Visconti pulled off a stunning double at the Giro d’Italia.

He endured a disappointing start to 2013 – finishing a distant 106th at Milan-San Remo, suffering a disqualification at Paris-Roubaix and failing to finish any of the cobbled classics in between. But he returned to form with steady, if unspectacular rides in the Ardennes Classics before bursting into form at the Giro. Attacking long in the stages up Col du Galibier and into Vicenza, Visconti blasted to the first two Grand Tour stage victories of his career, achieving both in some style as he soloed to victory by considerable distances.