Thanks to the power of analytics, Cyclingnews has hard evidence that in addition to enjoying photos of new bikes and tech, arguing on forums and following races, our readers had a keen interest in the big news stories of 2016, so we present to you the most popular topics of the year.
1. Mechanical doping
Although there has been but a single case of a motor found in a bike at a UCI-sanctioned race – that of U23 rider Femke Van Den Driessche at the cyclo-cross Worlds – there has been ongoing debate as to whether or not professional riders have used or are using mechanical assist devices to get an advantage in races. The cycling world has seen with doping that the cheaters are frequently ahead of the testers, and suspicions run deep that the same goes for mechanical doping. The Italian media have speculated that teams are employing very expensive maglev technology, and that mechanical assist devices are outdated. But despite using scanners and x-rays, the UCI has not revealed any evidence that this type of cheating is really taking place.
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2. Mont Ventoux mayhem in the Tour de France
The Tour de France had plenty of drama, but it reached fever pitch on stage 12, when ASO was forced to relocate the finish line on Mont Ventoux five kilometers down the mountain due to high winds. The massive crowds closed in on maillot jaune Chris Froome, Richie Porte and Bauke Mollema and the television motorbike filming them was brought to a sudden halt by the crowd. All three riders went down, but Mollema was quickest up and made gains on Froome that would have moved him up the rankings. Adam Yates could have taken the maillot jaune, but the decision of the jury to keep the time gaps in place at the time of the incident meant Froome's 1:40 loss to Mollema after his foot chase up the final kilometer did not stand. This memorable incident was voted Moment of the Year in our Reader Poll.
3. Bahrain-Merida emerges as new WorldTour team with Nibali at the helm
Early in the 2016 season, rumours of a new WorldTour team forming out of Bahrain backed by Prince Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa were confirmed, and skepticism and speculation swirled around the project. First it was suggested Bjarne Riis might have a role, but then Oleg Tinkov recommended otherwise while hinting that he would rather shutter his team than sell the WorldTour licence to the Bahrain team. Vincenzo Nibali had been linked to the team for months, and the transfer was confirmed in early August. There was plenty to follow as the Prince built his new squad around the Giro d'Italia winner.
4. Tinkov ends team, Sagan signs with Bora-Hansgrohe
5. Russian hackers leak TUE data; Wiggins and the mystery package
6. The great disc brake debate
7. Giant-Alpecin team crash, Degenkolb's difficulties
8. Demare's alleged tow on the Cipressa before his Sanremo win
9. Jess Varnish's sexism claims
10. Riders missing the time limit in the Vuelta a Espana
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