A day after arguments erupted throughout social media on whether or not Jonas Vingegaard ought to have been declared winner of the Velo d’Or prize forward of Mathieu van der Poel or Tadej Pogačar, Van der Poel was named Worldwide Flandrien within the Het Nieuwsblad awards on Wednesday.
All three riders had profitable seasons, with Van der Poel profitable Milan-San Remo, Paris-Roubaix and the UCI Highway World Championships street race along with his world title in cyclocross.
Pogačar received two Monuments: Tour of Flanders and Il Lombardia, was second within the Tour de France and completed the season because the UCI #1 ranked rider. Vingegaard received the Tour de France, Critérium du Dauphiné and Itzulia Basque Nation and was second to teammate Sepp Kuss on the Vuelta a España.
Van der Poel’s father Adrie van der Poel was on stage to obtain the trophy from fellow former stars Jan Janssen, Hennie Kuiper and Joop Zoetemelk, three of the 4 dwelling former world champions.
Van der Poel accepted his award by way of video message whereas clad in his rainbow jersey, saying, “It was an unforgettable season for me with victories in Milan-Sanremo, Paris-Roubaix, the gorgeous world title on the street in Glasgow and likewise the cyclocross title in Hoogerheide, which began the 12 months.
“It’s a nice honour to win the Worldwide Flandrien and maybe an excellent larger honour that there are three nice Dutch former riders in Ostend to current it. I want everybody a pleasant night.”
Adrie van der Poel thought Tadej Pogačar deserved the Velo d’Or, and was once more available to present his enter, this time on his son’s success and coming 12 months.
“Final 12 months was unbelievable for him,” Adrie Van der Poel stated. “I instantly informed him after the Highway World Championships: probably the most tough 12 months is now coming. I feel he has taken that under consideration and needs to begin the street season in the absolute best method.”
Pogačar, nonetheless in Japan after profitable the Saitama Criterium, additionally addressed the gala by way of video message.
“I am actually unhappy that I can not come to the Worldwide Flandrien Awards as a result of I shall be nonetheless in Tokyo,” he stated.
“I actually wish to congratulate my buddy Mathieu for this good award. It was a extremely shut battle between me and him however he received two monuments and World Championships and plenty of different issues. So, he actually deserves and I wish to congratulate him.”