Spartacus suffered some frustration in 2014, but the Swiss master remains King of the Cobbles and was always a nuisance to his rivals throughout the year.

Victory at the Tour of Flanders, a record-equaling third of his career, was Cancellara’s crowning moment, while he also finished on the podium at Milan-San Remo and Paris-Roubaix.

The Swiss hardman made no secret of his desire to pull on the rainbow jersey of world road race champion in Ponferrada, even foregoing the time trial after a strong season against the clock.

That he missed out should not detract from what many other riders would consider an outstanding campaign.

A key part of the Trek Factory Racing sprint train, and never far from the front of the bunch, it was also Cancellara’s attack which blew the peloton apart on the run-in to Harrogate for stage one of the Tour de France.

Just two victories all season – the other being another Swiss time trial crown – don’t tell the full story of another superb campaign.

Fabian Cancellara in 2014

Race wins: two
Grand Tour stage wins: none
Champagne moment: Winning a cat-and-mouse sprint from an elite quartet to claim his record-equaling third Tour of Flanders title