ANP
NOS Wielrennen•vandaag, 12:45
Annemiek van Vleuten was appointed Commander in the Order of Orange-Nassau last night during the Cycling Gala in Utrecht. The cyclist, who retired this year, was presented with the royal award by outgoing sports minister Conny Helder.
Van Vleuten, who had previously been appointed Knight in the Order of Orange-Nassau, is only the third athlete ever to be appointed commander. The decorated person must have performed very special or important activities. Or the merits have an international and even global appeal and significance.
In her glittering career, Van Vleuten won Olympic gold, the three Grand Tours (Tour, Giro and Vuelta) and several major classics such as Liège-Bastogne-Liège and the Tour of Flanders.
On Instagram, outgoing Minister Helder congratulated the awarded cyclists:
instagram/ministerlzs
The Order of Orange-Nassau has many gradations: from member to knight grand cross. Van Vleuten is the third athlete to be appointed commander. Former skater Ireen Wüst and chess player Max Euwe also belong to the third degree (out of six) of the Order of Orange-Nassau.
More athletes, such as Max Verstappen and Johan Cruijff, were appointed officers, a grade lower than commander. Olympic champions are normally appointed knight in the Order of Orange-Nassau, a fifth-degree honor.
Knight Vollering
Demi Vollering also belongs to the fifth degree since Monday. It was not her only award of the evening, the winner of the Tour de France Femmes won the Keetie van Oosten-Hage Trophy for best cyclist of the year for the first time. Last month Vollering also won the Velo d’Or, an international award for the best cyclist of the year.
In addition to the Tour de France, 27-year-old Vollering also triumphed in the Strade Bianche, Dwars door Vlaanderen, Amstel Gold Race, Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège. At the World Championships, Vollering came second behind Lotte Kopecky.
AFPTourwinnares Vollering
The Gerrit Schulte Trophy went to Mathieu van der Poel for the third time. Just like in 2019 and 2020, he was chosen as the best cyclist of the year. Puck Pieterse was named talent of the year and received the Gerrie Knetemann Trophy.
The new award for cycling team of the year went to Team Jumbo-Visma. The elections and the cycling gala were organized by Club 48, the association of former professional cyclists.
2023-11-28 11:45:11
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