It’s that time of year where the days grow shorter and the nights colder, and it seems like an age until the dawn of the new road cycling season. Time then, to reminisce over the highlights of another unforgettable year of racing, and to relive the moments that shaped the direction of the men’s season as a whole.
There are many more moments of drama we could have included – the death-defying descents of Matej Mohorič at Milan-San Remo and Tom Pidcock from the Col du Galibier, on his way to a stage win on Alpe d’Huez; Remco Evenepoel’s assured victory at World Championships, or the photo finish drama of Amstel Gold Race – for the second year in a row – as Benoit Cosnefroy was denied victory at the last moment by Michał Kwiatkowski.
Below, though, are the moments that arguably defined the season – the statements of intent, the turning of tides, the power plays from the sport’s greatest talents. We begin way back in March…
Solo at Strade
(Picture by James Startt)
It came as a surprise to precisely no-one when Tadej Pogačar struck out solo at the cross-wind battered, crash-riddled 2022 edition of Strade Bianche with 50km left to ride, and was never seen again. Sending a message to his rivals, the Slovenian prodigy showed his intent to dominate at both one-day races and Grand Tours, winning on the white roads in emphatic style, before heading to Tirreno-Adriatico to beat two of the other key dramatis personae of the 2022 season, Remco Evenepoel and Jonas Vingegaard.
Not bad for a week’s work.
It was all yellow
(Picture by SWPix)
The Race to the Sun was intriguing in that it offered an early season glimpse into the form of Primož Roglič, while his compatriot stuck around in Italy. After a nightmare in 2021’s edition, Roglič redeemed himself with the overall victory, but it was his team’s dominant display on Paris-Nice stage one that may have given UAE Team Emirates the most cause for concern.
After splitting the bunch in the trademark crosswinds, the trio of Roglič, Wout van Aert and Christophe Laporte attacked up the second ascent of the Côte de Breuil-Bois-Robert leaving the rest standing, storming to an electric 1-2-3 victory, destined to be their first but not last of the season. It laid down a stark warning: that the Dutch side had the squad to support their leader to the top prize.
Chinks in the Armour
(Picture by SWPix)
At Flanders, fans and experts alike were reminded nothing is guaranteed in cycling,…