World number one for the second year running, Purito’s consistency when the roads slope upwards mark him out as among the leading climbers on the WorldTour. Such consistency was never more obvious than at the Tour and Vuelta – at the former he finished fourth on Mont Ventoux, fifth on Alpe d’Huez and second on the Semnoz while he frequently placed in the top ten at the Vuelta before his stunning solo attack on the Alto del Naranco earned him a thoroughly well-deserved stage victory.

It is not just on the Grand Tours either – he won on Green Mountain at the Tour of Oman and beat Froome, Nibali, Alberto Contador et al in their first major meeting of the year by attacking on the final climb to Chieti during Tirreno-Adriatico. He also finished third on the Vallter 2000 stage of the Volta a Catalunya – where he finished second overall – second at Liege-Bastogne-Liege and capped the season with victory at the Giro di Lombardia. The final win highlighted his willingness to attack solo, and emphasised just how good a climber the Spaniard is.