Cycling: The Vélo d'Or is awarded to the best rider of the season every year. Who will snatch the title this year? In the person of Annemiek van Vleuten, a woman could receive the award for the first time. A track cycling pro has also been nominated. However, favorites are others.
Vélo d'Or 2021: There is no clear favourite
Last year got first time Primois Roglic presented with the coveted Vélo d'Or. The Slovenian won the award ahead of his fellow countryman Tadej pogacar and the Belgian Wout van Aert. These three professionals have been nominated again this year, but they have to deal with numerous well-known competitors. Roglic won the Vuelta a Espana and the time trial at the Olympics. Pogacar triumphed again in a commanding manner in the Tour de France, but also won Liège - Bastogne - Liège, the Tour of Lombardy, Tirreno - Adriatico and the UAE Tour. So he should start the race as a slight favourite. Wout van Aert impressed above all with his flexibility. The Belgian won three stages on different terrains in the Tour de France and also came out on top in the Amstel Gold Race. The Italian could surprise at the Vélo d'Or 2021 Sonny Colbrelli. He surprisingly won the European Road Race Championships and then Paris – Roubaix.
A woman and a track cyclist are nominated
In addition to the 10 pros from the men's peloton on the road, a woman and a track pro were also nominated. Annemiek van Vleuten could become the first woman to receive the Vélo d'Or. The Dutchwoman has been successful for many years and won the Tour of Flanders, among other things, this season. However, since she had even better results in previous years, it is not to be expected that she will be able to win the title this time. The same applies to track cyclists Harry Lavreysen. The Dutchman won a whopping seven gold medals this year, spread over the Olympics, the World Championships and the European Championships. So he definitely deserved the award, but the road bike pros still get preferential treatment. European cycling journalists from various countries will decide on the new title holder.
The nominees for the Vélo d'Or 2021
- Julian Alaphilippe (France)
- Kasper Asgreen (Denmark)
- Egan Bernal (Colombia)
- Richard Carapaz (Ecuador)
- Mark Cavendish (UK)
- Sonny Colbrelli (Italy)
- Harrie Lavreysen (Netherlands)
- Primož Roglič (Slovenia)
- Tadej Pogacar (Slovenia)
- Wout van Aert (Belgium)
- Mathieu van der Poel (Netherlands)
- Annemiek van Vleuten (Netherlands)
Previous winners: Jan Ullrich won in 1997
- 1992 Miguel Indurain
- 1993 Miguel Indurain
- 1994 Tony Rominger
- 1995 Laurent Jalabert
- 1996 Johan Museumw
- 1997 Jan Ullrich
- 1998 Marco Pantani
- 1999 lance Armstrong
- 2000 Lance Armstrong
- 2001 Lance Armstrong
- 2002 Mario Cipollini
- 2003 Lance Armstrong
- 2004 Lance Armstrong
- 2005 Tom Boonen
- 2006 Paolo Bettini
- 2007 Alberto Contador
- 2008 Alberto Contador
- 2009 Alberto Contador
- 2010 Fabian Cancellara
- 2011 Philippe Gilbert
- 2012 Bradley Wiggins
- 2013 Chris Froome
- 2014 Alberto Contador
- 2015 Chris Froome
- 2016 Peter Sagan
- 2017 Chris Froome
- 2018 Alejandro Valverde
- 2019 Julian Alaphilippe
- 2020 Primoz Roglic
Note: Lance Armstrong (USA) was stripped of all awards.