{"id":3420,"date":"2013-12-19T07:27:38","date_gmt":"2013-12-19T07:27:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/crankpunk.com\/?p=3420"},"modified":"2013-12-19T07:27:38","modified_gmt":"2013-12-19T07:27:38","slug":"2013-kate-smarts-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/crankpunk.com\/ja\/2013\/12\/19\/2013-kate-smarts-review\/","title":{"rendered":"2013: Kate Smart’s Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Kate Smart<\/em><\/p>\n

It\u2019s that time of year when we reflect on the year that was.<\/p>\n

So, in no particular order, and, at times, with tongue firmly planted in cheek, here\u2019s my two cents worth of the moments in the 2013 cycling season that I enjoyed the most.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Cyclists with magnificent hair<\/span><\/p>\n

As I\u2019m talking about my highs for the year, no pun intended, Marcel Kittel and his magnificent quiff takes first prize.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Quifftastic\"<\/a>
Quifftastic<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Dear reader, I must confess to being an absolute sucker for a quiff and Mr Kittel has provided one of the best I\u2019ve drooled over in a mighty long time.<\/p>\n

In fact, I\u2019m almost tempted to change my position on bike helmets. Surely, it must be some kind of travesty to hide a mane that superb under such a bulky and unflattering piece of kit.<\/p>\n

Let that beautifully sculpted hair run free, I say.<\/p>\n

In all seriousness, though, Kittel had a successful 2013, capped off with four stage wins in the Tour de France and ending Mark Cavendish\u2019s grip on the final sprint along the Champs Elys\u00e9e.<\/p>\n

I do look forward seeing more of the German sprinter in 2014.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Giro<\/span><\/p>\n

This year\u2019s Giro was one of the best three week races I\u2019ve stayed up very late for.<\/p>\n

At times, I thought I\u2019d wondered into The Lord of Rings, as Gandalf bravely attempted to take the fellowship over Caradhras, with Saruman sending a violent and punishing snowstorm crashing down them to stop them.<\/p>\n

But alas, it was not a movie. The snow was all very real and the action was fascinating.<\/p>\n

\"Giro-dItalia2013\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Vincenzo Nibali won his first Giro and he did it with style. The Italian showed us how you can lead a three week race, for almost three weeks, and not bore us to death.<\/p>\n

Were you watching Team Sky?<\/p>\n