And so the end of year is upon us and we look back with mirth and amazement at the events that have passed under the bridge since 2015 began.
In this piece we're having a look at the top 5 stickybottle and related incidents of the season.
When we say 'stickybottle and related incidents' we mean actual stickybottles, tows from team vehicles and general messing/cheating of that kind.
It’s all just a bit of fun for the time of year. Enjoy!
No 5. German junior sickens one of our own
This is just what you need when you're riding the Junior Nations Cup in France and struggling to survive; one of the Germans just ahead of you taking a massive hand sling.
The rider in the shot below doing it under his own steam is a member of Ireland's NRPT-Magnet.ie team.
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And while he's trying to stay in the cars to regain the bunch, the last thing he needs is somebody in the same trench as him getting assistance from the car.
No 4. Eduardo Sepulveda hitching a lift
To be fair to Sepulveda, he snapped his chain on a climb around 23km from the finish of stage 14 of the Tour de France to Mende.
And with no team car in sight he sought service from French rivals Ag2r La Mondiale.
Its car was conveniently placed and promptly offered the stricken South American a wheel so he could make it to the finish.
But when it emerged he had snapped his chain and he needed a new bike, the plan changed.
He had seen his team car stop a little earlier, presumably to help another rider.
However, that vehicle then caught him and passed him on the roadside because he was concealed behind the stopped Ag2r car trying to help him.
His own team quickly realised they had just past him and stopped.
But unable to walk the 100 metres or so up the climb to his own team vehicle because his cleats were slipping on the very steep climb, Sepulveda sat into the Ag2r car and was driven the short distance.
No 3. Nacer Bouhanni, Vuelta stage 3
The French sprinter came down in a crash 30km from the finish of stage 3 into Malaga.
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And during the chase back on engaged in a 12-second stickybottle.
The extra slow handing over of the bidon coincided with the driver of his team car hitting the accelerator.
Bouhanni got back on and finished 2nd on the stage behind Peter Sagan.
While the incident was caught on camera, below, he escaped with a fine of 100 Swiss Francs.
No 2. Francesco Reda on the Rás
Okay, so Reda hung onto a team vehicle and also availed of a magic spanner rather than engaged in a stickybotte move, but it's more or less the same thing so he makes our list.
The Italian had won the opening stage of the Rás in May and was in yellow the following day into Tipperary when he punctured just before the final climb with around 20km remaining.
He decided to hold on to the rear door window frame of his team car rather than draft behind during the chase back on.
A marshal warned the team car via race radio that they were being observed, after which a mechanic leaned out of the window ostensibly to make an adjustment.
At that point a car containing one of the race’s commissaires got close enough to see and issued two warnings in succession.
These were ignored and having regained the front group and held his overall lead he was disqualified from the race, much to the fury of his team.
No 1. Vincenzo Nibali in the Vuelta
Without question, the winner of "Stickybottle's Stickybottle of the Year Award" goes to the Italian Grand Tour master.
Not so masterful was his spectacularly dishonest and dumb two on stage 2 of the Vuelta, all captured live on TV from the air.
Nibali came down in the major crash 30km from the finish. And after being forced to wait for a bike he had 1:30 to make up on the bunch.
When his team car pulled up alongside, he grabbed hold and was pulled clear off the front of the group. Read the full story by following this link.
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