What would a sports gala be without a portion of controversy and discussion? In the Netherlands, Max Verstappen and Irene Schouten were crowned yesterday and the trophy for Schouten in particular raises questions and even annoyances. However, ex-rider Roxane Knetemann understands why Annemiek van Vleuten had to bow her head for her skating colleague.
Annemiek van Vleuten: Giro, Tour, Vuelta, Liège-Bastogne-Liège and the World Cup.
Irene Schouten: three times gold (3,000m, 5,000m and mass start) and one bronze (pursuit) at the Winter Games.
Schouten collected more votes and was elected Dutch Sportswoman of the Year yesterday, but many Dutch sports hearts (or were they cycling animals?) did not agree.
Ex-rider Roxane Knetemann does agree with the verdict. “I understand, but Schouten is a three-time Olympic champion”, emphasizes the daughter of the legendary former cyclist Gerrie Knetemann.
We once agreed that an Olympic medal is the highest attainable. If you take gold three times, it makes sense to me that you become a Sportswoman.
“We all agreed that an Olympic medal is the highest achievable. If you then take gold three times, it makes sense to me that you become a Sportswoman.”
“Van Vleuten was actually already 3-0 behind, because 2022 was an Olympic year for winter sports enthusiasts and skating is extremely popular in our country. You cannot compare apples and pears and they do.”
The podium Van Vleuten, Schouten and Schulting.
Women’s cycling versus global sports
There was even more commotion, because athlete Femke Bol – good for a basket of medals at the European Championships and the World Championships in athletics – was not even among the super nominees. “I thought that was very special, because athletics is such a global sport.”
And that is precisely where, according to Knetemann, the shoe pinches for Van Vleuten (and her colleagues). “Women’s cycling is on the rise, but it is still far from the level of the men’s race.”
“You cannot yet put the 3 Grand Tours next to those of the men. Our sport is not there yet. And that is not surprising, because look at where women’s cycling was 4 years ago.”
“The growth is immense, but we should not exaggerate it. Evenepoel’s Vuelta is not Van Vleuten’s Vuelta.”
“If you compare cyclists with each other, Van Vleuten is great. I don’t think anyone will imitate that in the short term,” says the Dutchman, who was still a teammate of Van Vleuten in the distant past.
“If you compare sports, you should not forget that women’s cycling still has to grow in breadth if you want to participate in athletics, for example.”
The Dutch winner.
Similar scenario in our country?
We will know the laureates in our country on 6 January. Remco Evenepoel, Wout van Aert, Bart Swings, Nafi Thiam, Lotte Kopecky and Loena Hendrickx are the nominees.
Have the winners for Roxane Knetemann been announced yet? “In Flanders, cycling is sport number 1 and Kopecky will get a lot of goodwill, but if you are the best athlete in the heptathlon, you deserve that trophy.”
“And as a Belgian I would also be so proud of the Olympic title of Swings. You have to wear him on your hands and I would choose him, but that will not happen.”
“The Belgian heart beats much more for a runner than for those who are fast on the skating rink.”
