Best of 2011: champions

Cadel Evans

Evans became the first Australian - and just the third non-European - to win the Tour de France in typically gritty fashion. His race-defining chase of a runaway Andy Schleck up the Col du Galibier was testament to his determination, while his ride in the decisive time trial showcased his all-round ability. A new team-first ethic seemed to underpin Evans' calm pursuit of victory, which made up for the years of misfortune that had marred his previous bids to win road cycling's most prestigious grand tour.

Geelong

2011 was meant to be the year the ageing Cats began their inevitable decline. Instead, the energy of new coach Chris Scott and the steely focus of Geelong's leaders brought about a third premiership from four grand finals in five years. Three wins over minor premier Collingwood - including by 38 points in the grand final - meant there was no doubt over the legitimacy of the Cats' win, which was marked by fine performances from a hobbled Steve Johnson and a maturing Tom Hawkins.

Manly Sea Eagles

Manly's title win was a testament to coach Des Hasler's ability to develop young talent - and have the likes of Kieran Foran and Daly Cherry-Evans perform at first-grade level. The Warriors' bold run to the decider provided the almost-fairytale of the finals series but the Sea Eagles were, predictably, too experienced on the day. Glenn Stewart capped an outstanding season by winning the Clive Churchill Medal in the grand final, while Will Hopoate's thrilling display served as a reminder of the talent the game will be missing for the next two years.

Sebastian Vettel

If the German's first championship in 2010 was only grudgingly acknowledged by Australians bitter at Mark Webber's runner-up finish, we had no choice but to laud the new king of Formula 1 after his dominant second title. Vettel claimed a record 15 poles, eclipsing Nigel Mansell's 1992 record and winning 11 races en route to the crown. Remarkably, he finished on the podium in 18 of the 19 races he completed. The rest of the field has their work cut out to catch Vettel and Red Bull in 2012.

Sam Stosur

Having several times threatened to win Australia's first women's grand slam title for three decades, Stosur finally delivered at the US Open. The 2010 French Open finalist was undaunted by the prospect of facing Serena Williams in New York on the 10th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks, playing her finest tennis to blitz the 13-time grand slam champ in straight sets.

India

MS Dhoni's men capped their rise to the top of the cricket world in April with their second World Cup win, and their first on home soil. The convoluted group stages meant India's tie with England and loss to South Africa failed to prevent their progress to the knockout rounds, where they accounted for Australia, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in succession. Losing finalists Sri Lanka were probably the best team of the tournament but there was no doubting India's ability to produce when it counted.

All Blacks

New Zealand produced one of world sport's best feel-good stories with a long-awaited triumph in the Rugby World Cup. The All Blacks' surprisingly tight 8-7 victory over France in the final brought a silver lining to the Land of the Long White Cloud, following a horror year punctuated by the Christchurch earthquake and the Pike River mining disaster. Unlike India's cricket World Cup win, there was no query over New Zealand's claim to being the world's best side. The All Blacks have been the nominally the world's best side for decades. They just didn't choke this time.

Black Caviar

Australia's queen of the turf remained unbeatable throughout the year, taking her winning streak to 16 before being spelled after her win in the Patinack Farm Stakes at the end of the Melbourne Cup carnival. It must be said that she didn't beat much throughout the spring as potential challengers Sepoy and Helmet preferred to battle their own age groups. The world now beckons for Peter Moody's sprint champion. A showdown at England's Royal Ascot in June against Sepoy is a mouthwatering prospect.

Casey Stoner

Stoner's MotoGP championship victory was something of an anti-climax, coming as it did after his only title rival Jorge Lorenzo was ruled out of the Australian Grand Prix with a severed finger. The crowd at Phillip Island didn't care, lauding the Australian as he streaked away to a fifth successive win at home to seal his second world title. Stoner's win capped a year of redemption after injury and mechanical problems had marred his 2009 and 2010 campaigns.

Novak Djokovic

The Serbian star usurped both Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer as tennis' new no.1 with one of the most dominant seasons in the sport's history. He lost just two matches between the start of the year and his win in the US Open, claiming three grand slam titles along the way. Although Djokovic's stamina waned at the end of the season, he completed his year with 70 wins from 76 matches and 10 tournament victories. His 43-game unbeaten streak from the start of the season was an ATP tour record, surpassing John McEnroe's 42-game mark in 1982.

Next up: brain fades

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