Remco Evenepoel became the first Belgian in over a decade to receive the Vélo d’Or, the award won since 1992 by some of the biggest names in cycling, including former cyclists on his team Tom Boonen (2005) and Paolo Bettini (2006), and Julian Alaphilipe (2019). At just 22 years old, the Belgian Quick Step rider thus closes a spectacular season with fifteen wins, included in that brilliant list a Monument (Liège-Bastoña-Liège), a three-week race (La Vuelta) and the World Cup. “It is a great honor to win the Vélo d’Or”, said the youngest runner in history to win this prestigious trophy. “Especially so early in my career, because in my opinion it is the most important award in our sport,” he says in statements to his team, the Quick Step.
Evenepoel gave Belgium its first Grand Tour in 44 years. By triumphing in Liège–Bastogne–Liège, the Tour of Spain and the World Championships, Remco made history as the first male runner since 1980 to win a Monument, a Grand Tour and the rainbow jersey in the same season, and in his fourth season as a professional. “When I was still playing football, I was fascinated by the prestige of the Ballon d’Or. Actually, the Vélo d’Or is cycling’s Ballon d’Or, and that link resonates a bit with me”, he says.
“I talk a lot about soccer with Oumi’s brothers (his partner, with whom he married a few weeks ago). His older brother is a Real Madrid fan and he went crazy when Benzema received the Ballon d’Or. Then we said laughing that I would be the future Ballon d’Or of cycling And I’m happy that this has come true now.”added Remco, who also collected the Kristallen Fiets and Flandrien trophies in the off-season in recognition of his impressive campaign. For now, the Belgian, who moved to Spain to settle in the Calpe area and surroundings, announced one of his challenges for 2023: the Giro d’Italia.