Jens Voigt (Radioshack-Leopard)

Despite having turned 42 in September, popular German hardman Jens Voigt is showing no signs of slowing. A fixture of the breakaway, he once stated: “If you go with the break, you either win or you don’t. If you don’t go with it, you definitely won’t win.” And he was certainly no stranger to the break at this year’s Tour de France – the 16th time The Jensie has contested cycling’s greatest race.

His most notable performance came on the penultimate day where, willed on by a hugely vocal crowd, he attacked the leading group before riding solo for much of the day to earn the combativity award. And while his attack in France was curtailed five kilometres from the summit finish, a similar move at the Tour of California – where his attack in cross winds saw him prevail in the resulting echelons – and he soloed to stage victory to add to his legendary status among fans of the sport.