Alexander Kristoff (Katusha)
Alexander Kristoff (Katusha)
Alexander Kristoff went from nearly man to major contender in 2014, with Milan-San Remo success kick-starting what proved to be a fine season.
His victory in San Remo showed exactly what he is capable of and, after going close twice earlier in the Tour de France, he bagged his first two Grand Tour stage wins, too.
Kristoff also won two stages and the points classification at his home race, the Tour of Norway, and he sealed a great year with victory at the Vattenfall Cyclassics – enough to earn a top-ten spot in the final UCI WorldTour rankings.
Fifth at the Tour of Flanders, following fourth last year, showed that Kristoff has several strings to his bow, too.
While he doesn’t have a turn of pace possessed by pure sprinters such as Marcel Kittel, Kristoff has nevertheless proved he is capable of major results, particularly when the going gets tough.
Alexander Kristoff in 2014
Stage wins: 13 (plus Tour des Fjords GC win)
Grand Tour stage wins: Tour x2
Champagne moment: A perfectly timed acceleration in freezng conditions at Milan-San Remo to record the biggest win of his career.