Flandrien of the Year
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The Flandrien of the Year (Dutch: Flandrien-Trofee) is an annual award presented by the Flemish newspaper Het Nieuwsblad to the best Belgian cyclist of the year. The prize has been awarded since 2003 and was originally awarded based on a vote by the public, and open to any nationality. The first winner of the award was the Italian Paolo Bettini. Since 2008, separate awards were created for the best Belgian cyclist, the best international cyclist, and the best Belgian female cyclist (Flandrienne of the Year). Also since 2008, the voting system was changed and only people from within the world of cycling choose the winners from a jury's list of nominees. Since 2014, an award for best international cyclo-cross cyclist was added. This latter award was replaced in 2019 by the Trophy Patrick Sercu in honour of the Belgian rider who died that year. The Trophy Patrick Sercu is awarded to the best non-road race cyclist.
The award is seen as prestigious in the world of cycling, especially since it is voted on by fellow cyclists. It is also seen as rewarding the cyclist who most embodies the tough and hard-working values of the Flandrien cyclists of years gone by, such as Briek Schotte.[1] International Flandrien of the Year 2013 Chris Froome summed up these sentiments when he accepted the award, saying: "A Flandrien is to me someone, no matter how tough the conditions are, never gives up. Someone who has the character of a fighter."[2]
Road Race Winners[edit]
(Open) Flandrien of the Year (2003–2007)[edit]
| Year | Country | Rider | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 |  Italy
|
Paolo Bettini | Quick-Step–Davitamon |
| 2004 |  Belgium
|
Tom Boonen | Quick-Step–Davitamon |
| 2005 | Belgium
|
Tom Boonen | Quick-Step–Innergetic |
| 2006 | Italy
|
Paolo Bettini | Quick-Step–Innergetic |
| 2007 | Italy
|
Paolo Bettini | Quick-Step–Innergetic |
(Belgian) Flandrien of the Year (2008–)[edit]
International Flandrien of the Year (2008–)[edit]
By country[edit]
| Country | Number of wins | Winning years |
|---|---|---|
 Great Britain |
5 |
2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2017 |
 Switzerland |
2 |
2008, 2010 |
 Slovakia |
2 |
2015, 2016 |
 Slovenia |
2 |
2021, 2022 |
 Netherlands |
2 |
2018, 2023 |
 Poland |
1 |
2014 |
 France |
1 |
2019 |
(Belgian) Flandrienne of the Year (2008–)[edit]
| Year | Country | Rider | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Belgium
|
Grace Verbeke | Lotto–Belisol Ladiesteam |
| 2009 | Belgium
|
Grace Verbeke | Lotto–Belisol Ladiesteam |
| 2010 | Belgium
|
Liesbet De Vocht | Nederland Bloeit |
| 2011 | Belgium
|
Grace Verbeke | Topsport Vlaanderen-Ridley Team |
| 2012 | Belgium
|
Liesbet De Vocht | Rabobank Women Cycling Team |
| 2013 | Belgium
|
Jessie Daams | Boels–Dolmans |
| 2014 | Belgium
|
Jolien D'Hoore | Lotto–Belisol Ladies |
| 2015 | Belgium
|
Jolien D'Hoore | Wiggle–Honda |
| 2016 | Belgium
|
Jolien D'Hoore | Wiggle High5 |
| 2017 | Belgium
|
Sanne Cant | Beobank–Corendon |
| 2018 | Belgium
|
Sanne Cant | Corendon–Circus |
| 2019 | Belgium
|
Sofie De Vuyst | Parkhotel Valkenburg |
| 2020 | Belgium
|
Lotte Kopecky | Lotto–Soudal Ladies |
| 2021 | Belgium
|
Lotte Kopecky | Liv Racing |
| 2022 | Belgium
|
Lotte Kopecky | SD Worx |
| 2023 | Belgium
|
Lotte Kopecky | SD Worx |
International Flandrienne of the Year (2022–)[edit]
| Year | Country | Rider | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Netherlands
|
Annemiek van Vleuten | Movistar Team |
Non-Road Race Winners[edit]
Flandrien of the Cyclo-Cross (2014–2018)[edit]
| Year | Country | Rider | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Belgium
|
Sven Nys | Crelan-AA Drink |
| 2015 | Netherlands
|
Mathieu van der Poel | BKCP–Powerplus |
| 2016 | Belgium
|
Wout Van Aert | Crelan–Vastgoedservice |
| 2017 | Netherlands
|
Mathieu van der Poel | Beobank–Corendon |
| 2018 | Netherlands
|
Mathieu van der Poel | Corendon–Circus |
Trophy Patrick Sercu (2019–)[edit]
| Year | Country | Rider | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Belgium
|
Victor Campenaerts | Lotto–Soudal |
| 2021 | Belgium
|
Tim Celen | Ploeg Kemp Sports Paracycling |
| 2022 | Belgium
|
Lotte Kopecky | SD Worx |
| 2023 | Belgium
|
Lotte Kopecky | SD Worx |
Lifetime Achievement Award[edit]
| Year | Country | Rider | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 |  Switzerland
|
Fabian Cancellara | Trek–Segafredo |
| 2021 | Belgium
|
Jolien D'Hoore | - |
| 2023 | Slovakia
|
Peter Sagan | - |
| 2023 | Belgium
|
Greg Van Avermaet | - |
Spark of the Year[edit]
| Year | Date | Winner | Team | Performance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 29 July | Lotte Kopecky (BEL)
|
SD Worx | Stage 7 of the Tour de France Femmes |