Velo magazine — January 2013

As 2012 comes to a close, Velo’s 25th annual Awards Issue will help you navigate the best performances of the year on-the-road and off. Find out who we named as the cyclists of the year (and why) in four different areas: international road, domestic road, mountain biking, and cyclocross.

First, in VeloNotes, Matthew Beaudin discusses the story of the year in “Down in Flames.” U.S. Anti-Doping Agency CEO Travis Tygart helped end Lance Armstrong’s legendary status in the sport; it may well prove to be the story of the decade as the repercussions continue to unfurl. Hear Tygart’s hopes for the future of cycling and what it meant for him to find the truth.

Editor-in-chief Neal Rogers sat down with Taylor Phinney and Tejay van Garderen who both had promising seasons with a Giro d’Italia maglia rosa and Tour de France maillot blanc among them. The BMC Racing teammates discuss their respective seasons, their working relationship, and what they’ve learned in their still-young careers.

Marianne Vos is Velo’s International Cyclist of the Year, though it wasn’t an easy decision. Bradley Wiggins had one of the most dominant seasons for a stage racer in history. We produced two different covers, but in the end, Vos’ dominance across disciplines was the difference.

You can read about the “New Boss” and her stellar 2012 season that included a gold medal at the Olympics and road and cyclocross world championships. Velo explores what’s next for this young legend who, at the age of 25, already has nine world championship titles in her bag.

Tour de France champ Bradley Wiggins is our International Man of the Year, as well as the Men’s Time Trialist of the Year. Andrew Hood discusses his dominant season, its place in history, and Wiggins’ role as the reluctant champion.

Find out what awards riders like Evelyn Stevens, Tom Boonen, Kristin Armstrong, Mark Cavendish, Peter Sagan, Georgia Gould, and others earned with their 2012 performances.

But it’s not just about the riders. Technology plays a huge role in the sport of cycling. Find out which products broke new ground, or just broke down, and which company got it right when they launched their latest design.

With the holiday season around the corner, the Velo tech department combed through the best products of the year and came up with nine items just right for the cyclist in your life (that includes you).

At the back, Dan Wuori hands out a few awards of his own, including the Fastest Bottle Delivery, the Best Cycling Mascot, and the “Where Thor Art Thou?” award.

Pick up the January 2013 issue of Velo magazine now at a bookseller or bike shop near you, or soon on Apple Newsstand.