Man of the 2014 tdf

[pigoonse]

Going into this TdF I really thought and felt Contador would win and Froome would give AC a decent battle. Nibali was going to attack and make the race interesting but he had not shown good form until just before the start of the Tour - Italian championships. When Nibali took the Leader's jersey on stage two, it was a surprise and he continued to outperform my expectations right up to the final TT. There were other surprises but none more than how well Nibs rode the wet cobbles.

Thoroughly enjoyed performances by Navardauskas, Pinot, Peraud, Bardet, Majka, Boom, Kristoff, Coquard, Greipal, Giant Shimano, OPQS and Tony Martin, ect...but it was the Shark who continued to exceed my expectations the most.

At the other end, the disappointment and under-performer, was Richie Porte. I really thought he would have more form and be more of a factor in the race than he was after Froome went out.

 

[ILovecycling]

Nibali of course.
Then gallopin,peraud,bardet

 

[Modemfearer]

For me it was Ben Gastauer, he was an unknown rider at the start. At the end he was the one who brought the Team-Victory Home, with him being regularly the third man of AG2R.

He pulled hard on Risoul, then with 5 km to go, let the Best fight for victory, just to be told be his Directeur sportif to hang on and fight for 3rd Man.

Which he has done excellently over the Tour, drive for his two Captains, and for the Team-Classification.

At the end he became 21st of the Tour.

For me the biggest Overperformance in this Tour.

 

[Akuryo]

Tony Martin anyone? Two days in a breakaway, polka-dot jersey for a day. Twice red number. 2 Stage wins. Okay, he did nothing in the third week and was resting for the TT, which he crushed by the way.
Yes, the TT was expected, but still. His first two weeks were quite strong.

Other than that? I think Pinot. Did not expect him so good. Yes, he only got on the podium, because Contador and Froome were out, but still. Big improvements in the last 2 years for him and FDJ.fr

 

[KubaWinter]

I voted for Majka. First, I am from Poland and as a fan I waited ages for stage wins in GT Second, I think nobody expected anything like that. He was complaining about his current form and even in his home country people were saying that he has no guts.

Nibali was the man, be he was obliged to be. After two other podium contenders out of the game he was natural candidate. I would definitely vote for him if he beat the AC and CF in that style

French guys did very well, but there was almost no competition. For JCP it's a big success, but... some luck helped him.