Second at the Eneco Tour in 2013 while still 22, Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Shimano) enhanced his burgeoning reputation with a great season this year.

The Dutchman’s ability against the clock has been one of the major factors in that rise, frequently a contender and now a World Championship bronze medallist, too.

Like Tony Martin, who twice beat him against the clock at the Tour de Suisse, he backed up those results with solid showings in road stages – as proven by his fifth place overall in Switzerland.

A stage win and another day in the Eneco Tour leader’s jersey saw Dumoulin top the points classification and finish third overall before a strong end to the year in Canada ahead of that world time trial bronze.

Second overall at the Tour of Alberta – by just one second – Dumoulin then finished second and sixth in the GP de Quebec and GP de Montreal respectively to prove his all-round ability.

Always a factor against the clock and more than capable of backing that up on the road in the week-long stage races, expect the Dutchman’s name to come up again in 2015.

Tom Dumoulin in 2014

Stage wins: four
Grand Tour stage wins: none
Champagne moment: Rounding off an impressive season against the clock by winning bronze in Ponferrada, his first World Championship medal.