When it comes to the cycling world, the 2018 season was one to remember. Upsets and long-overdue victories were common themes throughout the year, with a new Tour de France winner and World Champion crowned in style. Sparks flew in both the men's and women's races, including emotional wins and come-from-behind performances that will be talked about for years to come.
From Sagan's dominant Paris-Roubaix performance to Valverde finally securing the rainbow jersey, we've gathered 10 of our favorite cycling moments from 2018.
Did we leave something out? Feel free to leave your favorite cycling moment in the comment section, below.
The Rainbow Jersey Wins Paris-Roubaix
From pulling off the unlikely and winning the Tour of California to blowing out the green jersey competition time and time again, Peter Sagan is no stranger to success. But perhaps his most impressive performance to date came on the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix in 2018. Sagan jumped on an attack with 54K to go, ultimately staying clear of the chase and outsprinting Silvan Dillier on the velodrome for the win in the rainbow jersey. Fortune favors the bold, and this historic edition of Paris-Roubaix proved no exception.
Vincenzo Nibali's Poggio Attacks
Known for his audacious attacks on steep climbs, Vincenzo Nibali showed he still has a flair for the dramatic with a decisive, solo attack on the Poggio during Milan-San Remo. He increased his lead to about eight seconds as he crested the top of the climb and was able to maintain his lead through a fearless solo descent. For what seemed like an eternity, Nibali held off the fast-closing sprinters during the last kilometer for an emotional win on home turf with only a few meters to spare.
Chris Froome's Stage 19 Win at the Giro
When fans look back on the 2018, it's impossible to not include Chris Froome's Stage 19 win at the Giro d'Italia. With 80K to the finish, Froome attacked on the Colle della Finestre, distancing himself from favorites Tom Dumoulin and Simon Yates and finishing over three minutes ahead of his competition. Despite the odds, Froome's Hail Mary move all but secured the unlikely pink jersey, and we can't think of a more dominant performance in recent years.
John Degenkolb's Tour de France Return
Perhaps less significant yet still one of the most moving moments on the list, we couldn't not include John Degenkolb's emotional Stage 9 win at the Tour de France. As expected, the cobbles wreaked havoc on the peloton throughout the stage, and Degenkolb found himself positioned to outsprint Greg Van Avermaet and Yves Lampaert for the victory. This master class in cycling follows a long recovery process after a potentially career-ending training crash in 2016.
Geraint Thomas Flawless in Tour de France
When it comes to the Tour de France, it seems like Team Sky can do no wrong. Even with Geraint Thomas wearing the yellow jersey early on, many assumed Thomas would eventually relinquished it to defending champion and teammate Chris Froome before the Champs-Elysées. With Froome faltering on a handful of stages and Thomas shining on the climb to La Rosiére and on Alpe d'Huez, the final time trial secured the seemingly impossible. With two Tour winners jockeying for the leadership role, we'll be interested to see who Team Sky chooses to support in the Tour next year.
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