So what a season 2020 has been. The global pandemic made cycling seem almost nonexistent at one point, but in the end it was full of spectacular racing and action. The Pro Cycling Magazine (opens in new tab) team presents the craziest year in our Review of the Year (opens in new tab), available for purchase now.

At the center of much of the action was Wout Van Aert, who seemed to have mastered every race he entered. He won Strade Bianche and Milan-San Remo, and was impressive with Jumbo Visma's Super Tour de France team. Not only that, he finished second in both the time trial and road race at the World Championships, as well as the Tour de Flanders. Not bad for a Palmares in a Covid-inspired year.

In an exclusive interview with Procycling magazine, Van Aat spoke about being labeled the best cyclist in the world. He said: "I shouldn't answer that. For me, being labeled the best cyclist in the world is not a problem. That's for others to discuss. For me, it is more important to win as many races as possible and achieve my goals. That is not my goal."

Another of the 2020 riders, Elisa Longo Borghini, spoke to Sophie Halcomb about her passion for cycling and the amazing success of her team, Trek-Segafredo. She said: "The atmosphere within the team is very good, everyone is riding very well. We are very united and the staff and the players are working very well together." It is like our secret weapon.

After a season in which he won his first stage at the Giro Rosa and contributed to many of Trek's victories, Longo Borghini downplayed his achievement: "For me, just winning was something special. It was very special."

He also said that he was "very proud of the fact that I won the first stage of the championship.

In their review of the cycling season, the experts at Pro Cycling Magazine pick out the moments of the year, including the battle between Van Aert and Mathieu Van Der Pol, the much-discussed rider power, and the return of the time trial. Also selected are the best riders, best races, and best teams for 2020.

This year's Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España were held in October instead of May for the Giro, and the Vuelta did not finish until mid-November. Barry Ryan followed the Italian race that produced an unexpected winner in Tao Geoghegan Hart, while Alasdair Fotheringham covered the Vuelta, which was a relief for Primoš Roglic.

Of the Giro, Ryan writes:" Perhaps more than at any point since the time of Coppi and Bartali, the Giro presented itself as a symbol of the country's response to the pandemic in general and the pandemic in particular." [Regarding Roglic in Spain, Fotheringham argues: "Last year's Vuelta was won by a catenaccio-style strategy of taking the lead in the time trial and defending it in the mountains. Last year's Vuelta was won by a catenaccio-style strategy of taking the lead in the time trial and defending it in the mountains.

Also in this month's issue, we present another star of 2020: Arnaud Demaret. Arnaud Demaret was the most successful rider of the year. Edouard Pickering says. The Frenchman packed 14 wins into the two months between Milan-Torino and stage 11 of the Giro. That means one win every 2.85 race days since the start of the season. There is no denying that he is in great form. Has Arnaud Demaret suddenly become the best sprinter in the world? "

Sunweb's young stars, Marc Hirschi and Søren Kragu Andersen in the Tour de France and Jai Hindley in the Giro d'Italia, have been impressive wherever they have looked. Proving that not every team needs a leader, Sunweb benefited from the philosophy of giving equal chances to all of its merry band of friends. Victory was distributed among nine riders, among whom some of the sport's brightest young talents blossomed and turned heads."

There is an analysis of the 2020 Women's World Tour by Owen Rogers. There is also an interview with Nicholas Dlamini, who grew up in a South African township, who spoke to Procycling about his path to the World Tour. At the time of the interview, the 25-year-old was still looking for a team for next season. Dlamini told Sophie Halcomb: "I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that I can get something at the World Tour level and stay at this level."

We also bid farewell to the 2020 dialists: Heidi Franz, James Knox, and Roger Kluge reflect on the season. Plus, Dan Martin, Lawrence ten Dam, Retro, and the regulars.

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