Lieuwe Westra

In 2012, the coveted national time trial title was finally won by Westra. The proud man from the Dutch province of Friesland had already come close a number of times, but now he finally won that title in the purest discipline. In the autumn he then won the time trial and after the final ranking in the red-white-and-blue jersey at the Tour of Denmark. The 30 year-old, who has been with Vacansoleil DCM from the start, also proved his mettle at the Olympic time trial. A place just outside the top 10 as in line with his 8th position at the World Championship Time Trial a year earlier. In addition to this storm of time trials, of course his stage victory in the queen stage of Paris-Nice was perhaps the most outstanding achievement of Westra, who in 2011 decided to concentrate more on the smaller stage races. A strict diet and many climbing kilometres near his new home in Spain made him the rider who came closest to keeping Wiggins from victory in a stage race. His hard work was rewarded with a second place in Paris-Nice. Now that Westra knows his possibilities, he will be seeking to take another step up in 2013.