7 Dec '18

Photo of the week: The wheel thing

Summary

Belgium’s cycling industry gathered for the presentation of the annual Kristallen Fiets, given each year to the country’s best-performing cyclists

 

Ride on

Belgium’s cycling industry gathered in Vilvoorde this week for the presentation of the annual Kristallen Fiets, given each year to the country’s best-performing cyclists.

Time-trial specialist Victor Campenaerts from Antwerp was the overall winner among the men, while track star Nicky Degrendele of Knokke took home the women’s award. Degrendele became world keirin champion this year at the age of 21.

The night’s other winners were Remco Evenepoel (young rider of the year), Patrick Lefevere (team leader of the year) and Tim Declercq (domestique, or support rider, of the year).

Campenaert’s prize was presented by cycling legend Bradley Wiggins, whose world hour record of 54.526 miles he now hopes to break. He said afterwards on Twitter: “Receiving the #KristallenFiets out of the hands of @bradwiggins ... do I need to say more? Speechless!”

The Kristallen Fiets was created by Flemish newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws in 1992.

Photo: David Stockman/Belga

Now read this

Flemish cycling

Flemish cyclists have played a dominant role in the history of European bicycle racing. With the Ronde van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders), the region also has a classic cycle race.
Flandriens - The legendary pioneers of the Flemish cycling tradition are called “Flandriens”. They include Roger De Vlaeminck, Eddy Planckaert, Johan Museeuw and Walter Godefroot.
Eddy Merckx - Having won 525 races in his career, Brusselaar Eddy Merckx, nicknamed “the Cannibal”, is considered one of the greatest cyclists of all time.
Trophy - The annual Flandrien Trophy honours the best Belgian cyclist of the past season. Professional cyclists choose and vote for the nominees.
5

number of times Merckx won the Tour de France

1 913

first Tour of Flanders

1 969

Merckx becomes first Belgian to win the Tour de France in 30 years

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