The Lance Armstrong scandal left a huge gap in cycling's record books and further tainted the sport in a year when Britain experienced Olympic bliss in the wake of Bradley Wiggins' Tour de France title.

Armstrong was banned for life and stripped of his record seven Tour de France titles after the US Anti-Doping Agency uncovered what it said was the "most sophisticated" doping program ever found.

It was, however, a vintage year for British cycling as it won its maiden Tour through Wiggins and scooped 12 medals at the London Olympics.

But the feel-good factor for the sport was shortlived as on Aug 23, Armstrong announced he would no longer fight doping charges after failing to have the process blocked by a judge.

His decision prompted the USADA to announce the Texan would lose his Tour titles from 1999-2005.

It was not until mid-October, however, that the extent of Armstrong's fraud was exposed when USADA published a 1,000-page report featuring testimonies from former teammates incriminating the US rider, a cancer survivor who went on to dominate the sport's greatest race more than anyone else.

His accusers said that with Armstrong effectively in charge, hotel rooms were transformed into blood banks, doctors were paid off and riders were warned about tests in advance.