The Vélo d'Or (French for "Golden Bicycle") is a cycle racing award, created in 1992 by the French cycling magazine Vélo Magazine. The award is given annually to the rider considered to have performed the best over the year and since 2022 there is also an award for the best female rider.
| Vélo d'Or | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Date | 1992 |
| Location | France |
| Presented by | Vélo Magazine |
| First awarded | 1992 |
| Current holder |  Jonas Vingegaard(1st award)  Demi Vollering(1st award) |
| Most awards |  Alberto Contador(4 awards) |
Originally, Lance Armstrong won the Vélo d'Or five times, but his results were removed after USADA stripped him of his Tour victories. The Vélo d'Or for these years was not given to the second-ranked cyclist.[1] Alberto Contador holds the record of winning the award four times.
There is also another distinction for French racers named "Vélo d'Or français" and since 2023 also for the best Classics rider in the world for men and women, "Trophée Eddy Merckx", named after the Belgian cyclist.
Recipients edit
Men edit
Women edit
| Year | Winner | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Annemiek van Vleuten (NED) |
 Lotte Kopecky (BEL) |
 Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (FRA)
|
| 2023 | Demi Vollering (NED) |
Lotte Kopecky (BEL) |
Annemiek van Vleuten (NED)
|
Eddy Merckx Trophy Men edit
| Year | Winner | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Mathieu van der Poel (NED) |
 Tadej Pogačar (SLO) |
Remco Evenepoel (BEL)
|
Eddy Merckx Trophy Women edit
| Year | Winner | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Lotte Kopecky (BEL) |
Demi Vollering (NED) |
 Alison Jackson (CAN)
|
References edit
- ^ "Armstrong : tout doit disparaître". Europe 1 (in French). Retrieved 2018-10-27.
- ^ a b c d e f g Armstrong's results have been removed by Velo magazine due to evidence of performance enhancing drug use.
- ^ "Alejandro Valverde élu Vélo d'or 2018, Thibaut Pinot est le Vélo d'or français". L'Équipe (in French). Retrieved 2018-10-27.
- ^ "Julian Alaphilippe élu Vélo d'or 2019". L'Équipe (in French). Retrieved 1 December 2019.