65 races i loved in 2022 cycling season - part 3/13.

2022 was the year when I got into a lifelong marriage with cycling. I watched and followed more races than ever before, tried to write about as many as I could (only time will tell how successful I was in doing so), and immersed myself in all the beautiful and not so beautiful things that this whole world has given me. In that respect, 2022 was a successful year, as there were plenty of good races/memorable wins to recall now, at the end of the season, creating some pleasant moments for all fans.

In this 13-part series, I bring you a brief recap of the top 65 races for me this year, with a few personal experiences that I hope you can relate to. These stages come to your dining table from all categories, all over the world... Let's see who booked their places in the third part.

#11: Tour de France, Stage 11

Winner: Jonas Vingegaard

it was the day where:

- Denmark finally made the list of top cycling nations

- proved that Jonas Vingegaard can win a GC.

- it was also proved that Tadej Pogacar is not invincible and invulnerable

- we learned that Primoz Roglic is an amazingly good domestique

- Nairo Quintana may have shown something from himself at the highest level for the last time in his career.

- The attacking style of racing earned a total victory over the 'just attack at the end of the climbs' style.

In a word, this stage had everything that makes us love this sport, it would be hard to sum up everything that happened here even under an hour.

#12: Itzulia, Stage 5.

Winner: Carlos Rodriguez Cano

Basque Country, you are wonderful. This year's Itzulia was full of wonderful moments, but the first big moment of a new star was perhaps the most memorable for me. Carlos Rodriguez Cano's first full season was everything he dreamed of, he took the Spanish Championship title along with an 80km breakaway/attack to take fifth stage of Itzulia, claimed top 10 at the Vuelta, and perhaps most importantly, he looked strong on almost every raceday he participated and was often among the favourites, a very positive sign for the future.

Incidentally, the stage was famous for a huge fight between the GC riders and Rodriguez, as well as the world's slowest crash and a relative scandal between Vingegaard and Vlasov. Lots of stories with a nice ending.

#13: Giro d'Italia, Stage 8.

Winner: Thomas de Gendt

The triumph of mind. When a lot of people have been declared breakaway king since the pandemic, the real king just sat quietly and tolerated all those opinions... but when given the opportunity, he swooped in like a hawk. Thomas de Gendt's victory has turned back the clock 10 years to when he was at the top and when he could win everywhere, at every level. Times have changed, the body has aged, but there are some things that can't be taught, such as routine and tactics. The fact that he was able to win from a breakaway that had superstars like Girmay and van der Poel is absolutely fantastic. I'm firmly convinced that we've seen one of the last great victories of a great career, and in some ways that's what makes it all incredibly special.

#14: World Championships - Men's Road Race

Winner: Remco Evenepoel

After 3 and a half years, the pro peloton was back in Australia, and they have put together a world championship that will be remembered for a long time. Lots of excitement, surprises, perfectly developed and completely botched tactical decisions - all these were the hallmarks of these 8 days in early autumn (early spring). Remco Evenepoel, I think, belongs in the first category. He was by far the strongest during the whole month of September, winning both Vuelta and the World Championships, he had an amazingly crazy few weeks. It was very interesting the way he went into the breakaway, I didn't think he could race so refined - his final superiority was historic. And while it wasn't the closest race in history, it was still more than enjoyable in my opinion.

#15: La Vuelta - Stage 21.

Winner: Juan Sebastian Molano

Basically, it's rare that I put a sprint in this list, because the whole point of a sprint has always been to get the strongest rider to win.

Except when the teams are completely fooling everyone, maybe even themselves.

The leadout people in sprints are totally underrated, they help a lot and yet they don't get enough attention... Juan Sebastian Molano just got it. I must add that he is not the classic leadout man. He used to be one of the most talented of the new Colombian generation, but then came the injuries, his scrappy attitude and that magic seemed to be lost. With this totally unexpected, surprising, funny but still feel-good win, I really hope he can bring himself back and be a help in the sprints next year for the UAE that can really benefit both parties.