If we learned nothing else in 2014, it is to never write off Vincenzo Nibali.

The Shark bit back at his critics after a below-par first half to the season as he stormed to a comprehensive overall win at the Tour de France.

Nibali’s stage-winning attack on stage two in Sheffield and his mastery of the cobbles on stage five set the tone, but it was in the high mountains where he truly distinguished himself.

Nibali was simply untouchable whenever the Tour hit a mountain range, picking up stage wins on La Planche des Belles Filles in the Vosges, Chamrousse in the Alps and Hautacam in the Pyrenees.

Where his rivals all suffered and gradually fell out of contention, Nibali just attacked and attacked and gained time at every opportunity.

Would it have been a different story if Froome and Contador were still involved in the race? We’ll never know. All we do know is Nibali simply couldn’t be touched by those who remained.

Vincenzo Nibali in 2014

Stage wins: four
Grand Tour stage wins: Tour de France x4
GC wins in 2014: one (Tour de France)
Champagne moment: Victory atop Hautacam on stage 18 of the Tour. Nibali was not content with just sitting on his rivals, instead storming to another comprehensive solo win.