Lotte Kopecky and Remco Evenepoel shine as top Flandrien riders for 2024

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Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime) was named the Flandrienne of the 12 months for a fifth consecutive time whereas Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep) took a second trophy as the highest Flandrien. The annual gala, organised by Het Nieuwsblad, was held Tuesday night in Middelkerke.

The identical duo acquired honours three weeks in the past with the Kristallen Fiets, Crystal Bicycle, as the very best Belgian cyclists organised by one other Belgian newspaper, Het Laatste Nieuws. Kopecky additionally acquired a particular Sporting Advantage Trophy final month.

Kopecky had a stellar season in 2024, profitable back-to-back rainbow jerseys as the ladies’s street race world champion plus two silver medals at Monitor World Championships within the Elimination and Factors races. She additionally earned a bronze medal within the street race on the Paris Olympic Video games and a silver medal in entrance of a house crowd on the UCI Gravel World Championships. 

Throughout the street season with SD Worx-Protime, Kopecky recorded 16 victories and ended the season because the top-ranked rider on the UCI World Rating, a primary for a Belgian elite lady.

In line with Het Nieuwsblad, Kopecky’s complete household was current for the awards presentation, which was made as a shock by her grandfather François.

Justine Ghekiere (AG Insurance coverage-Soudal), who gained the Le Grand-Bornand stage on the Tour de France Femmes, Lore De Schepper (AG Insurance coverage-Soudal), Margot Vanpachtenbeke (VolkerWessels) and Fleur Moors (Lidl-Trek) had been among the many different nominees with recognition from ‘a jury of consultants’ who vote for the Flandrienne of the 12 months.  

The boys’s award is set from amongst friends within the peloton, who gave the nod to double Olympic gold medallist Evenepoel over Tim Merlier (Soudal-QuickStep) and final yr’s winner Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck). Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Thibau Nys (Lidl-Trek) additionally acquired votes.

Evenepoel scored 9 street victories in 2024, which included a second time trial world title and the time trial and street race sweep on the Paris Olympic Video games.

“Successful this prestigious trophy for the second time in my profession is one thing that makes me proud, as a result of it rewards what has been certainly one of my greatest seasons since turning professional,” Evenepoel mentioned in a workforce assertion.

“I need to thank my household and my workforce for his or her steady assist and for believing in me, this wouldn’t have been attainable with out them. It’s one thing that motivates me to turn into even higher and obtain extra stunning leads to the Soudal Fast-Step and Belgian jerseys.”

The Flandrien of the Future trophies had been offered to Jenze Joris as the very best newcomer, Jasper Schoffs as the highest junior and Jarno Wilder as the very best under-23 rider. The Baanbreker award as trailblazer of the yr went to Ewoud Vromant. 

The Lidl Biking Heroes award was offered by Kopecky to a pair of brothers, a 10-year-old and an 11-year-old, who rode 150km and raised €15,000 for the Kids’s Most cancers Fund.