The nominations
Froome reaches summit with Tour de France win
Event: Tour de France
When: 29 June - 21 July 2013
Where: France
How it unfolded
Good things come to those who wait. And in 2013, after a year of doing just that, Team Sky's Chris Froome was free to do what many believed was his destiny in 2012.
Victory in the Tour of Omen in February would be a sign of things to come for the 28-year-old. A hat-trick of wins in the Criterium International, Tour de Romandie and Criterium du Dauphine served only to reinforce Froome’s status as the favourite for the yellow jersey.
But it wasn’t until stage eight, on the summit finish of Ax 3 Domaines, that Froome led the general classification after a superb victory. He wouldn’t relinquish his grip on the yellow jersey for the rest of the Tour.
A resolute performance on stage nine, when isolated from his Team Sky colleagues, followed by a second summit triumph on Mont Ventoux put Froome in the ascendancy. His third and final win in the stage 17 time trial to Chorges left no doubt as to his worth as victor.
Only once over the finish line did Froome acknowledge his victory, delivering a speech as head of the peloton as part the landmark 100th edition of the Tour.
What they said
"Crossing the line with [the] guys brought tears to my eyes. I expected it to be big but this is something else.
"Dave [Team Sky manager Sir Dave Brailsford] has been talking about the future of cycling - the youngsters coming through and the way the sport is moving. I look at the last decade and the way sport is going - we've got something to be proud of."
Why should this be the British Cycling Ride of the Year 2013?
For many pro cyclists, holding a peak of form for weeks is a challenge. Froome knew in order to win the world’s biggest cycling event he would have to hold his form for a year - and make improvements - if he was to realise a childhood dream.
He achieved this with exceptional displays in victory but also tenacious performances when his position was challenged.
