Netherlands this Wednesday chose the best athletes of the year, a vote conducted by Dutch professional athletes and a professional jury. And in the men’s category came a surprise because it was his season Max Verstappen With many F1 records – 18 victories in 22 GPs and a third consecutive title – it did not help him win his third consecutive Dutch trophy. The best Dutch male athlete 2023 is considered a cyclist Mathieu van der Poel for his road world champion title in Glasgow.
The best female athlete is without any discussion. Athlete Femke Bol was awarded for the first time for her two gold medals at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest and her world indoor record in the 400 meters. The other two nominees are fellow athlete Sifan Hassan (winner of the London and Chicago marathons) and rower Karolien Florijn (world skiff champion).
Van der Poel, 28, received the majority of votes from his teammates who wanted to reward his success on Glasgow’s wet and steep streets by collapsing before the finish line, getting up and wearing a rainbow jersey, first Dutchman since Joop Zoetemelk in 1985 to win gold in the men’s road race. Furthermore, Van der Poel also won the cyclocross world title earlier in the year, after an exciting battle with his eternal rival Wout van Aert.
Van der Poel, absent from the Utrecht Gala – his award was collected by his national cycling coaches Koos Moerenhout and Gerben de Knegt – beat Max Verstappen and track cyclist Harrie Lavreysen.
Bol won the second prize as a member of the best Dutch team of the year, considered the women’s 4×400 meters world champion in Budapest and consisting of Eveline Saalberg, Lieke Klaver, Cathelijn Peeters and Femke Bol.
Source: La Verdad
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