POLL: Breakthrough Rider of the Year - CyclingUpToDate End of Season Awards

The 2023 road season has reached its conclusion and we want to hear from you! Who has impressed you the most over the past campaign?

Your opinion counts and every vote matters so with that in mind comes our first award... Breakthrough Rider of the Year.

Firstly of course, the nominees.

A tremendous campaign from the talented young Irishman, Healy took a total of five wins including stage 8 of the Giro d'Italia and the road race at the Irish National Championships. Although he wasn't able to win one, it was arguably his performances in the Spring Classics that most impressed however. Finishing 2nd at Brabantse Pijl, 2nd at Amstel Gold Race and 4th at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Healy proved himself as one of the most talented one day racers in the peloton today during 2023.

Just 19 years old, Tarling could hardly have dreamed of a better debut campaign at World Tour level. Crowning himself British National time-trial champion and European time-trial champion, Tarling very nearly took the World Championships in Glasgow too, settling for a bronze medal. Finishing the season in style, Tarling got revenge on Remco Evenepoel with victory at the Chrono des Nations.

One of the stars of the Giro d'Italia, Gee impressed everyone with his never-say-die attitude during the race. Although he was sadly unable to take that elusive stage win, four second-place finishes and ending the race second overall in both the points classification and the King of the Mountains classification, the Canadian lit up his first career Grand Tour.

10 wins in total, including his first career win at World Tour level in Quebec, De Lie really seemed to take a step up in 2023. Finishing the year at a very high-level, De Lie was a key component in Wout van Aert's second-place finish at the European Championships with some even believing if the roles had been reversed, De Lie could have taken victory himself.

Just his third year at World Tour lever, Milan took on a Grand Tour for the first time in his career at the Giro d'Italia and it's fair to say he was quite impressive. Having to wait just two stages for his first Grand Tour stage win, Milan managed to take overall victory in the points classification. His form during the year also earned the 23-year-old a big money move to Lidl-Trek.

The saviour of AG2R Citroen Team's Tour de France, Gall was a consistently high-level performer throughout the year. Top-10 general classification finishes at each of the Itzulia Basque Country, the Tour of the Alps and the aforementioned Tour de France, the 25-year-old Austrian stepped up a level in 2023 and now looks set to lead his over the coming seasons. 

Just 21 years old, Pieterse was one of the stars of the cyclocross campaign towards the start of this year. Finishing second behind her compatriot Fem van Empel at the cyclocross World Championships, the Dutchwoman also made her first steps into a career on the road, achieving a very creditable 5th placed finish at Strade Bianche Donne.

Stepping up to women's World Tour level in 2023 with Lidl-Trek, Realini had an incredibly successful campaign with a number of great results such as second overall at the UAE Tour Women, 3rd at Fleche Wallone, 7th at Liège-Bastogne-Liège and a very impressive podium finish at both the Giro d'Italia Donne and  La Vuelta Femenina.

So who do you think should win? Use the poll below to cast your vote!