It’s back for a new year and what a better way to kick off the sporting year by asking our group of dedicated writers, what they’re looking forward to?
The question: What sporting event are you most looking forward to in 2014?
Edward Seaman
Tour de France – Can a British man win it for a third year in a row? It looks geared up to be an inner team battle between Froome and Wiggins for the top dog in Team Sky. Big question has to be is/can Wiggins get back to his best and challenge the 2013 winner? Could also be the last tour for Mark Cavendish, who would love to go out with the green jersey. British interest in the sport has never been greater and can the three big names in British cycling deliver once again?
Ryan Hall
There’s so much to look forward to in 2014. Along with obviously, the World Cup in Brazil there is the climax to one of the tightest Premier League seasons ever with 5-6 genuine title contenders.
Wimbledon will be hotly anticipated as we look to see whether Andy Murray can retain his crown. There is the question of whether Vettel and Team Red Bull’s utter domination in Formula 1 can go on and of course, the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow as the best athletes from around the World arrive in Britain two years after the London Olympics. Plenty on offer then even if you are not a football fan. One last thing, arguably the greatest snowboarder of all time, Shaun White, in Sochi will be an exciting watch.
Adam Allcroft
Obviously the World Cup will be something special, especially with it being held in Brazil. However there are plenty of things to look forward to if you don’t care about football. Team GB will most likely take home the most amount of medals they ever have from the Winter Olympics in Sochi and as an American Football fan I’m particularly excited about the Superbowl in New York with the weather set to play a big part. The Commonwealth Games should also be great fun. It’s just a shame really that a lot of these events could be taken over by politics
Max Mclean – Deputy Sport Editor of The Linc
2014 is a big year for two British sportsmen, namely Rory Mcilroy and Andy Murray. The pair are both double grand slam winners in their sport, but have the opportunity to become greats in the next phase of their careers. Murray’s Wimbledon victory made him a multi grand slam champion as well as becoming the first male British Wimbledon singles champion for 77 years. He can now play with less pressure, but returning from back surgery might mean he has to put realistic hopes of a third grand slam off until his Wimbledon return.
For McIlroy, after the US Open win in 2011 and PGA Championship success in 2012, he was unable to add a slam victory for the third consecutive year. At 24 time is on his side, but if he is to challenge legacies such as that of Tiger Woods, Rory will need 2014 to bring grand slam consistency.
Daniel Baker
The World T20. It’s something of a chance for English cricket to restore some credibility after a disastrous Ashes and I feel some of the current crop are better suited to the shorter formats of the game. Let’s not forget England won it in 2010. Also, for the first time 16 teams will take part and it’s nice that smaller nations have the chance to be in the tournament, even if they don’t make the Super 10’s stage.
Josh Barber
As a cycling fan it’s impossible to look any further than the 101st edition of the Tour De France. British fans had to wait 99 years for a Yellow Jersey winner, but like our buses seem to, two have come at once. This has certainly got the country going cycling crazy and with the Grand Depart taking place in Yorkshire it’s a great opportunity to see our cycling hero’s streaming past our front doors.
Not only have we got the Grand Depart to look forward to, with Chris Froome searching for his second consecutive yellow jersey, with potentially, the greatest rear gunner in the current peloton, Bradley Wiggins, its hard to look past Froome to make it 3 in 3. Not to be greedy, but British cycling shouldnt be mentioned without mark Cavendish.
He’s had a tough two years, sky neglected his talent in some respects and OPQS got it slightly wrong last year, with the addition of ‘Cavs’ ultimate lead-out man Mark Renshaw to the train for 2014 it could potentially be Green and Yellow for Britain!
Jonathan Hart
The Winter Paralympic Games in Sochi. Its something I’ve never really watched before because its never on TV but Channel 4 are finally going to give it the coverage it deserves. It should be really exciting to watch as already extreme sports become more extreme. Team GB has several genuine medal contenders too. This includes local interest too, with visually impaired skiier Jade Etherington from Louth a great prospect.