As we come to the end of the year, it is only natural to look back on our achievements throughout 2015 – and there are lots to choose from.

Throughout the last twelve months, as we ride the road to Rio, we have seen wins and strong performances all across the world, in all disciplines, by members of the Great Britain Cycling Team.

There is nothing better than seeing a British rider pulling on the rainbow stripes as a world champion and Lizzie Armitstead’s fantastic win in the UCI Road World Championships in Richmond will live long in the memory – a wonderful achievement from a rider in terrific form.

Rachel Atherton’s performances in 2015 have been incredible. Downhill mountain bike world champion for the third time and a dominant world cup series with six wins out of seven, it’s been a fantastic season for her.

We also saw more dominance on the track at the UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships, with Dame Sarah Storey, Jody Cundy and the pairings of Neil Fachie and Pete Mitchell and Sophie Thornhill and Helen Scott bringing home the gold and those rainbow stripes.

Liam Phillips made history by becoming the first man to ever win back-to-back UCI BMX Supercross World Cup titles with wins in three of five rounds across the season including a terrific weekend on his home track in Manchester.

You also can’t mention historical achievements without the names Sir Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome.

Sir Brad broke the prestigious UCI Hour Record back in June setting a colossal mark of 54.526km at the Lee Valley VeloPark.

Meanwhile Chris sipped champagne on the route to Paris once again – becoming the first British rider to win the Tour de France twice.

We have also seen some very encouraging signs for the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 as well, with our young riders showing their incredible potential on a number of occasions.

Our Senior and Junior Olympic Academy riders won 12 medals, of which four were gold, at the UEC Under-23 and Junior Track Championships in Athens back in July.

It showcased the number of exiting prospects coming through our Rider Route, which helps the most promising riders become the stars of world and Olympic cycling.

In September, Evie Richards won cross-country silver in the junior women’s race at the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships to showcase her burgeoning talent.

We got a glimpse of our bright future at the highest level earlier this month at the second round of the UCI Track Cycling World Cup 2015/16, as a young squad brought home three medals from Cambridge, New Zealand.

So, how do we top that in 2016? We are all looking forward to the UCI Track Cycling World Championships in London in March.

This is an incredible opportunity for riders to become world champions on home turf and also to lay down a marker ahead of the Olympic Games in Rio.

A South American summer of sport in the Olympics and Paralympics is of course, the big one. We all remember how exciting it was in London in 2012 and our team has the chance to make more memories in Brazil.

I hope you all have a great end to 2015 – maybe there’ll be a new bike for one or two of you for Christmas! I wish you all a very happy and healthy 2016.

Shane