Alberto Contador has been chosen for the 2014 Vélo d'Or after the traditional poll of international journalists held by France's Vélo Magazine.
The honour was started in 1992 when Miguel Indurain won his first of two awards. Since then it has gone to a variety of riders: Philippe Gilbert topped off his amazing season in 2011 with the nod from the press, while Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome won in 2012 and 2013 respectively after their victories in the Tour de France.
At the end of a tumultuous year in which he spectacularly crashed out of July's Tour de France only to return to dominate and win the Vuelta a Espana, Contador becomes the first person to win the prestigious award for a fourth time (of course, only after Lance Armstrong's five wins were removed from the records).
After a very - and at times surprisingly - successful year for French cycling, Jean-Christophe Péraud saw off stiff competition to win the Vélo d'Or Français after his second place finish in the Tour de France.
The awards won't be officially confirmed until the next issue of Vélo Magazine is published later in October, with the ceremony taking place later in the year.
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