When we were finishing up our Top Ten Wins of 2022, it seemed impossible we would be able to top it in any future year. There were just so many momentus victories. But pretty early in 2023, those fears dissipated. From World Cup DH to Pro Tour road cycling, 2023 was the most successful season not only for Reserve, but for any wheel brand in the history of cycling. And now that 2023 has drawn to a close, it’s time to look back at the year that was and celebrate those individual highs. With that, we bring you our Top Ten Wins of 2023, in no particular order.
Jackson Goldstone at Mont Sainte Anne
Calling it the single “greatest victory” of his nascent career, Jackson Goldstone ended the elite World Cup DH season in striking fashion by claiming the top step of the podium for the second time in the 2023 season. This win was especially momentous as it was in his home country of Canada at Mont Sainte Anne in Quebec. Finishing second overall in this, his debut Men’s Elite season, one gets the sense that Jackson’s just getting started and we couldn’t be more excited to go along for the ride.
Keegan Swenson at the Leadville 100
Santa Cruz htSQD rider Keegan Swenson continued to awe and amaze anyone paying attention at the Leadville Trail 100 MTB. Setting a new world record–16.5 minutes faster than his former best–he secured his third consecutive victory in 2023 with a time of 5:43:31. The victory which Keegan described as “a long time in the making” was made atop his “tried and true Highball” sitting on Reserve’s 25|GR x DT180 wheelset.
Jonas Vingegaard Tour de France Stage 16
2023 Stage 16 of the Tour de France met its match in the form of Team Jumbo-Visma’s Jonas Vingegaard. The only rider to average 40km/hr over the 22.4 kilometer hilly stage from Passy to Combloux with 1,295 feet of elevation gain; Vingegaard finished with a nearly two minute GC advantage despite having started a mere 10 seconds in the advantage. The individual time victory at Stage 16 was a crucial moment in terms of setting the tone for Jonas’ remaining performance on the Tour, winning by a massive one minute, 38 seconds over Tadej Pogacar, his closest rival. This dominant display of horsepower and control sent a strong message to the peloton and demonstrated Jonas’ undeniable ability.
Primoz Roglic, Stage 20 of Giro D’Italia
Stage 20 of Giro D’Italia served up a thriller as the Slovenian slayer Primoz Roglic battled the field (and a rogue chain) to snatch the pink jersey. Roglic was leading Welshman Geraint Thomas through the brutal upper slopes of the Monte Lussari when he dropped a chain a las his mechanical mishaps at the 2020 Tour de France. Despite being knocked off his footing, Roglic fought back to win the stage 40 seconds ahead of Thomas with Joao Almieida of UAE in third at +42 seconds. His dogged spirit is the source of the momentum that carried Roglic to the overall victory at Giro this year and is likely to carry him to many more victories yet.
Flora Colledge at the Norseman Ultra-Triathlon
Having been runner-up twice in the race that founder Hårek Stranheim has called “the hardest Ironman race on earth”, Reserve’s Flora Colledge quite literally climbed the mountain that is the Norseman Ultra-Triathlon to emerge victorious ahead of all competitors in 2023. Clocking a time of 11:20:10 atop the Gaustatoppen 1,883 meters (6,177 ft.) above where she began, Flora finished eleven and a half minutes ahead of her nearest challenger and cemented her place as an elite Triathlete picking up her 3rd 1st place Xtri finish. 3,800m in the water, 180km on a bike, 42km on foot, 0 opposition. To quote Flora after her disappointing loss in 2022 “you win or you learn”. She’s now done both.
Wout van Aert at the Belgium ITT National Championships
This June, Reserve’s Wout van Aert beat out Alec Segaert and Rune Herregodts on the 41.6K, rain-soaked, Herzele course with a winning time of 51:52 in the third Belgian time trial title of his storied career. Belgian-native Van Aert delighted his home crowd in this decisive victory. The virtual number one at all checkpoints, Wout’s victory can best be described as categorical and dominant. ”It’s nice to be back on the top step of the podium” quipped Wout after the victory. We at Reserve tend to agree.
Fem van Empel at X20
Fem van Empel is a force to be reckoned with. She’s been getting podium spots at UCI and UEC championship races since she first started competing as a junior in 2019. Coming off an X20 overall victory for the 2022-23 season, this season she’s already placed 1st at 9 UCI events–every one she’s competed in–including all three of the X20 Badmakers races held thus far. Her victory at Kortrijk was especially impressive as she was able to recover from an early wreck after losing control on the 2nd lap. Catapulted into the barriers, Fem fought her way back through the field utilizing her immense power in the long straights to sail onto another victory, saving her perfect season in the process.
Stage 3 Paris-Nice Team Time Trial
Stage 3 of the 2023 Paris-Nice saw a bold rule shake-up in the Team Time Trial. In years past the time recorded would’ve been that of the 4th or 5th rider across the line incentivizing teams to send a group of 4 or 5 riders out ahead down the final stretch. This year, it would be the 1st rider across the line whose time was counted. This change was instituted in an effort to make the race more dynamic by virtue of each team’s top rider getting a slingshot to breakaway from his teammates for the homestretch of the race. The thing is, when your team has two World Time Trial Champions, a couple of extra National Champions, and the winner of the 2022 TDF (ultimately 2023 as well), the format has a good chance of being broken. This is precisely what happened with Team Jumbo-Visma. Instead of Jonas Vingegaard breaking away from his teammates down the final section, the triumvirate of Vingegaard, Jan Tratnik and Nathan Van Hooydonck came across the line nearly simultaneously with a time of 33:55, a second ahead of Cort Magnus of team EF Education-EasyPost. One has to wonder just how sizable a gulf the lead rider would have opened up had Team Jumbo-Visma followed the prescribed format instead of bringing the bulk of their immense firepower to bear on the finish line, brute-forcing their way to an incontrovertible victory.
Sepp Kuss, Stage 6 at the Vuelta a España
Let's be honest. 2023 belonged to Team Jumbo-Visma. From Roglič's Giro roar to Vingegaard's Tour triumph, it was a victory lap around the globe. But here's the thing: while everyone was cheering the titans, another champion quietly rose through the ranks–American Sepp Kuss. Think of Sepp as the ultimate wingman, the silent operator guiding his teammates to glory. This year, Sepp came into his own. The Vuelta came, and suddenly, Kuss wasn't just clearing paths–he was blazing his own. Stage wins, yellow jersey flirtations, and then, bam! Victory. Yes, the Vuelta crown sits proudly on Sepp's head, proof that sometimes, the greatest heroes emerge from the shadows. Sepp deserves all the praise that is coming his way as he may not have been the headliner, but he sure stole the show. And believe us, this is just the beginning. The American Dream is alive–it's pedaling hard on two Reserve wheels and wearing a Jumbo-Visma jersey.
P.S. Don't worry, Vingegaard, Sepp's still got your back.
Jackson Goldstone at Val di Sole
The downhill run at Val di Sole (ominously named the Black Snake) in the Italian Alps is a 2.4km long, 540 meter drop, peaking at a 40% grade. It’s a fast, steep, boulder-strewn, technical track that’s been biting contenders relentlessly for the 26 years the Italians have been hosting the event. In 2022, in his final season as a junior, in an otherwise blistering showing, Jackson Goldstone washed out hard on the final corner, breaking his bars, forcing him to limp his bike across the line repeatedly shouting “No….no” (in addition to a few other choice explitives). A bitter end to a supremely admirable season. Fast forward to 2023, final event of his rookie Men's UCI Downhill season, and pressure (piled high, both his and everyone else's) on Jackson to perform. The young man did not disappoint. Through skill, poise and determination Goldstone was able to turn in a ripping time of 3:34:926; over 2 seconds ahead of his nearest competitor, turning the obstacle-loaded mid section of the course into something of a flow trail and picking up mega-speed in the bermed corners of the opening and closing segments of the course. The Black Snake still bites, but this time, Goldstone bites back.
Honorable Mentions
Primoz Roglic at Tirreno-Adriatico
After getting bone-graft surgery in October 2022, few thought Primoz Roglic would have a great start to the 2023 season. But to the surprise of many (and himself), Roglic raised the Tirreno-Adriatico winner's trident trophy and pulled on the final blue jersey, sweeping the overall, the points and mountains classifications for the win.
Wout van Aert at E3 Saxo Classic
The rivalry continued as Team Jumbo-Visma’s Wout van Aert beat Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogačar to win the E3 Saxo Classic after a battle of the titans on the cobbled (and slippery) climbs of Flanders.
Els Vissar-What a Year!
Following up wins at the European Championship and the Ironman New Zealand, Vissar scored another victory at the Challenge Canberra middle distance triathlon. It was the bike section that brought Vissar into contention, as she went from 6th place after the swim to 2nd place on the bike, using a final kick in the marathon to spring to first at the checkers.