2023-10-10 19:45:00
Remco Evenepoel won the Vélo de Cristal, a trophy rewarding the best Belgian cyclist of the season and organized by the daily Het Laatste Nieuws, for the third time in his career on Wednesday during the ceremony organized in Kruisem. He had already received this trophy in 2019 and 2022.
The Soudal Quick-Step rider won with 964 points ahead of Jasper Philipsen, the green jersey of the Tour de France, 2nd with 688 points. Wout van Aert, winner in 2020 and 2021, is 3rd with 618 points. Arnaud De Lie (444 points) and Cian Uijtdebroeks (332 points) complete the top 5.
Remco Evenepoel added thirteen victories to his record in 2023, bringing his career total to 50 victories at the age of 23. He notably won Liège-Bastogne-Liège for the second year in a row, the Clasica San Sebastian for the third time, the title of Belgian champion and the title of world time trial champion, twelve months following winning the rainbow in the online race. He also won the two times of the Tour of Italy, which he had to leave prematurely, affected by Covid, while he was wearing the pink jersey. In the Vuelta, where a failure in the 13th stage destroyed his overall ambitions, he took three stages and left Madrid with the jersey of the best climber. He ended his season on Saturday with a 9th place at the Tour of Lombardy, the last Monument of the season.
Lotte Kopecky received the Women’s Crystal Bike
The 27-year-old from Antwerp was the big favorite following having had the best season of her career in 2023. She launched her season by winning the Circuit Het Nieuwsblald, the opening race of the Belgian cycling season, at the end of February. After a success at the Nokere Koerse, she triumphed at the Tour of Flanders. Kopecky notably won the titles of Belgian champion in the road race and the time trial, before winning the 1st stage and wearing the yellow jersey of the Tour de France Femmes for six days, from which she took the final 2nd place.
She traveled to Glasgow in August for the cycling “Super Worlds”. On the road, she became the first Belgian world champion in 50 years and the title of Nicole Van den Broeck in 1973. She added two world titles on the track in Scotland, taking gold in the points race and the elimination race , as well as bronze in omnium. For these last two events, she obtained the same results at the Euro in Granges.
Lotte Kopecky, who once once more climbed onto the 3rd step of the Euro road podium two weeks ago, triumphed on Tuesday, winning with 1088 points, 482 more than her runner-up, Justine Ghekiere (606 points) . Marthe Truyen (402 points) completes the podium. The top 5 is completed by Sanne Cant (312 points) and Julie Van De Velde (242 points).
The trophy for the best sports director of the year for the Roodhooft brothers
Brothers Christoph and Philip Roodhooft received the trophy for the best sports director of the year during the Vélo de Cristal ceremony, a trophy rewarding the best Belgian cyclist of the season and organized by the daily Het Laatste Nieuws, during the ceremony organized Tuesday in Kruisem.
Christoph and Philip Roodhooft are at the head of the Alpecin-Deceuninck team of world champion Mathieu van der Poel. The Dutchman also won, among others, Milan-Sanremo and Paris-Roubaix this year. Jasper Philipsen is the one who has topped the Belgian team’s record this year, taking 17 of the team’s 33 successes. The Antwerp rider, who with Tadej Pogacar holds the season victory record, notably won Bruges-La Panne, the GP de l’Escaut and, above all, four stages and the green jersey of the Tour de France. He is currently at the Tour of Turkey, of which he won the first two stages.
The Roodhooft brothers, who received the trophy for the first time in 2021, totaled 712 points. They are ahead of federal coach Sven Vanthourenhout, winner last year and this time 2nd with 458 points. Kenny De Ketele and Klaas Lodewyck/Geert Van Bondt are tied for 3rd with 244 points.
Nathan Van Hooydonck was elected team player of the year
The Jumbo-Visma rider was forced to end his career last month at the age of 27 following a heart defect was diagnosed. On September 12, he felt unwell while driving and was involved in a car accident.
“I don’t remember anything regarding the accident,” Nathan Van Hooydonck said Tuesday evening. “What I remember is grief, because I knew immediately that my career was over, even before the doctors told me. I already feel much better. The week in the hospital has been terrible, even I had a lot of help from the medical staff. And certainly from my family. They were there every day. As soon as I was allowed to go home, our son was born. I realize very well that I might never have held him in my arms like that. I realize it more and more every day”, adds Nathan Van Hooydonck who became the father of little Alessio a few days following announcing the end of his career.
Wout van Aert’s lieutenant, who was also part of the team that allowed Jonas Vingegaard to win his second Tour de France in July, succeeds Tiesj Benoot on the list of winners.
William Jr. Lecerf and Julie De Wilde are the Hopes of the year
William Jr. Lecerf, 20, won the U21 Tour of Lombardy on October 1st. The rider of the 2023Soudal – Quick-Step Devo Team also notably finished 5th in the Tour de l’Avenir, 8th in the Giro U23 and 9th in Liège – Bastogne – Liège U23. He was elected with 448 points ahead of Sente Sentjens (440) and Tijl De Decker (426) and succeeds Alec Segaert on the list.
Julie De WIlde, 20 years old, is the very first winner of the Women’s Trophy of Hope. She was elected with 810 points ahead of Fleur Moors (746) and Hélène Hesters (296). Julie De Wilde won the Flanders Diamond Tour this year and won the bronze medal in the U21 World Time Trial Championships.
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