Top five sporting moments of 2013

Armstrong shows his hand

After years of allegations, denials and shock counter-claims Lance Armstrong finally came clean about his heavy involvement in doping throughout his entire career in January 2013.

For many, it’s a shame that one of the most memorable sports stories of the year casts such a terrible shadow over all the others, and it’s a huge pity that negativity and malice had tainted one of the most-loved sports in the world. Of course, on the other hand, it was fantastic to see Lance Armstrong’s guard finally come own after such a long battle with himself – after all, his candid revelation was the very least he owed to the cycling community.

One would hope that the powers that be and the World Cycling Union can attempt to start afresh now and can use Armstrong’s confession as a springboard to keep the sport clean and free of controversy.

To paraphrase Paul Kimmage: “The cancer has been in remission for nearly a year. Let’s hope it doesn’t return.”