Entertainer: Ben Healy
Cycling races offer all kinds of potential for hours of boredom, if it weren't for racing cyclists fighting against it. Our entertainer of the year: Ben Healy. The Irishman, born in 2000, has characterised the season with his offensive riding style and fighting spirit. At the Tour of the Basque Country, he put in a 56-kilometre solo to stage victory there, finished on the podium at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, won a stage at the Tour, temporarily snatched the yellow jersey and won world championship bronze. All highly entertaining.
Newcomer II: Paul Seixas
In France, they are overflowing with enthusiasm. Paul Seixas is only 19, but in his home country they are convinced that he has what it takes to be the next winner of the Tour de France. Many of his compatriots have recently failed to fulfil this expectation. With European Championship bronze On a challenging course, the teenager from Team Decathlon proved that he has already come a long way.
New start: Juan Ayuso
Many highly talented cyclists succumb to the lure of money from the Emirates. This was also the case for Juan Ayuso, who promised great things as a teenager, signed with the top UAE team and finished third in the Tour of Spain at the age of 19. But he didn't like the shadowy existence alongside Tadej Pogačar. He visibly refused to help out and sought his own success. Now it came to a break at the Vuelta: The partners parted with much fanfare during the race. Ayuso showed his talent with two stage wins and, now aged 24, moved on to the new employer Lidl-Trek continue.
Fighter type: Nico Denz
Nico Denz's career symbolises the not uncommon role reversal in professional cycling. His Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe team sent the 31-year-old to the Giro d'Italia so that he could ride his lungs out in the service of captain Primož Roglič. When the opportunity presented itself, he won a stage - and save his team's balance sheet. A winner when the opportunity arises.
Masterly: Georg Zimmermann
Georg Zimmermann is a reflective professional cyclist. He knows what he can and cannot do. The 28-year-old from Augsburg has set himself three major goals for his career. He wants to take part in the Olympic Games, win a Tour stage and become German champion. He achieved the latter in 2025. Everyone can see it: until next summer, he can wear the black, red and gold championship jersey.
