The 10 best riders of the 2024 cycling season

After a season of domination, it is time to close the 2024 chapter with the 10 best riders of the season. While obviously there is no discussion possible for first place, the others are more open to debate.

Note that there will be one big absentee from this list, it is Jonas Vingegaard. The Dane, victim of a heavy fall on the Tour of the Basque Country, has raced too little this year to be part of this top 10, even if obviously, in terms of level, there is no doubt that he would be in the top 5. But this is not the objective of the article, which is rather to highlight the riders who have marked this 2024 season.

The 10 best riders of the 2024 season:

10 – Maxim Van Gils – Lotto Dstny

Maxim Van Gils was the sensation at the start of the season. Between February and May, the Belgian showed his consistency and showed his talents to the eyes of the world. Even if he won little at first, Van Gils took a string of places of honor including a podium on the Strade Bianche and even on the Flèche Wallonne. His 4th place on the Doyenne confirmed that he was destined for the Ardennes and ended his classic campaign with a victory at the GP Frankfurt. Its 2nd part is, however, more disappointing in terms of results. We hoped for a victory in the Tour de France but he was never able to envisage it and subsequently disappeared from the radar except during the GP Quebec where he did a number with his teammates Berckmoes and Arnaud De Lie. In short, this remains the year of confirmation for him, which made him change dimension. He is now one of the top names in one-day races.

Significant results:

9 – Marc Hirschi – UAE Team Emirates

Deprived of the Grand Tour and quite discreet at the start of the season, this did not prevent Marc Hirschi from having a thunderous 2024. A little sidelined in the biggest races where Tadej Pogacar was present, the Swiss fell back on the other races. As in 2023, his season really started in April, with a 2nd place in the Amstel Gold Race, beaten by Pidcock. He subsequently took places of honor in the general conti rankings before achieving a truly exceptional end to the year. Five victories in a row, in five different races including two World Tour classics, the Clasica San Sebastian and the Bretagne Classic. Also very strong at the Worlds, he failed in 6th place at home but made a strong impression in the last lap. We can’t wait to see his transfer to Tudor.

Significant results:

8 – Tim Merlier – Soudal Quick Step

We didn’t really know where Tim Merlier was before starting the season but the Belgian responded brilliantly. Clearly in the match for the title of best sprinter, the ranking of which we will share with you soon, Merlier has succeeded where others have failed, winning one-day races with his title of European champion as the highlight. . We can obviously add his three stage victories at the Giro, making him the most successful sprinter here, even though it was the toughest field of the year. In the end, the leader of the Soudal Quick Step finished with 16 bouquets, all won in a sprint of course. A superb year.

Significant results:

7 – Matteo Jorgenson – Visma Lease a Bike

If there is one Visma rider who avoided problems and had a great season, it is Matteo Jorgenson. Certainly, as in 2023, he was less festive in the second part of the season despite a top 10 on the Tour, but his first months in the jersey of the Dutch team were exceptional! His victory at Paris-Nice, ahead of Remco Evenepoel, was a major surprise. His success on Across Flanders is yet another confirmation of his versatility. In the end, he finishes this year 2024 in 11th place in the UCI rankings but higher in our book.

Significant results:

6 – Ben O’Connor – Decathlon AG2R

When it comes to a breakout year, Ben O’Connor’s isn’t bad either. Like his team, Decathlon AG2R, in difficulty in 2023, the Australian woke up in 2024. A victory in the Tour of Murcia to start, then a series of Top 5s in WT stage races. If his Giro was slightly disappointing, where he finished at the foot of the podium, he finally managed to get on his first podium in GT on the Vuelta, after a soloist number on the 6th stage. His 2nd place at the Zurich World Cup therefore rewards the best season of his career. And probably he will never have another year like this again. From our point of view anyway. Something for him to enjoy before flying to Jayco Alula for new adventures.

Significant results:

5e – Primoz Roglic – Bora hansgrohe

His position will obviously get people talking. With his fall in the Tour Pays Basque, Primoz Roglic had to, like Vingegaard, give up his start to the season. Until then he had only raced Paris-Nice, 10th. But upon his return, Roglic won. First the Critérium du Dauphiné then the Vuelta, equalizing Roberto Heras’ victory record, with four successes. Certainly, between the two he will have experienced another retirement from the Tour de France, but he was on his way to playing for 3rd place, which would have made for an excellent season. In the end, his 2024 season is a contrast, like his career, made of very highs and very lows. But despite the obstacles, Roglic always ends up winning something important. And that’s impressive.

Significant results:

1st in the Vuelta (Record wins) + 3 stages
1st of Dauphiné + 2 stages
1st ITT Basque Country before its fall

4 – Jasper Philipsen – Alpecin Deceuninck

It’s paradoxical to find Jasper Philipsen among the best runners of the season, even though he has lost his status as the best sprinter in the world. However, he still had the best year of his career thanks to this victory over Milan-San Remo. The first for a sprinter in years. He is also 3rd in the UCI rankings, proof of immense consistency and still won three stages in the Tour de France despite losing his green jersey. He ended the season with 10 successes all the same, and a 2nd place in Paris-Roubaix, once again behind his leader Mathieu Van der Poel.

Significant results:

2nd – Ex-aequo – Remco Evenepoel – Soudal Quick Step

We enter this season’s All-Star with Remco Evenepoel. Obviously, some will not agree and would have preferred to see him 2nd alone. His double at the Olympic Games will obviously go down in history and his 3rd place in the Tour de France as another important step in his progress. His double world title/Olympic time trial proves that he is indeed the best rider in the world. But the Belgian also missed some goals, starting with the World Cup where he performed at a level far below what was expected of him. He seemed so far from Tadej Pogacar in the Tour of Lombardy, although he finished 2nd. Despite this, his year remains excellent. He achieved a performance never before done at the Olympic Games and will be able to concentrate on other objectives in the future. His season is very similar to that of MVP with a huge half of the season and another more discreet one. He should have been 3rd but his 2nd place in Lombardy made us change our minds, hence the tied 2nd place.

Significant results:

1st Olympic Games online & timed
3rd in the Tour de France + 1 stage
World Time Trial Champion
2nd in Paris-Nice
2e UCI
2nd in the Tour of Lombardy

2nd – Mathieu Van der Poel – Alpecin Deceuninck

Once again, Mathieu Van der Poel left his mark on the season. By equalizing the record for victories on the Tour of Flanders (three successes), Mathieu Van der Poel made history. History that he continued with his first Ronde / Roubaix double. Each time, in style, after a solo number. Certainly, he did not succeed in winning the Olympic Games, the fault also of a great Wout Van Aert who foiled him, which benefited Evenepoel. This is his only failure of the year since his podium at the World Cup was not expected by many, just like his 3rd place on the Doyenne, which certainly took on the appearance of a miracle. Even by running very little, too little for us, Mathieu Van der Poel manages to mark the season each time. He is the best Flandrien in the world.

Significant results: