The Vélo d'Or (French for "Golden Bicycle") is a
cycle racing
Cycle, cycles, or cyclic may refer to:
Anthropology and social sciences
* Cyclic history, a theory of history
* Cyclical theory, a theory of American political history associated with Arthur Schlesinger, Sr.
* Social cycle, various cycles in so ...
award, created in 1992 by the French
cycling magazine ''
Vélo Magazine
Velo or Vélo may refer to:
* A bicycle, a two-wheeled, single-track vehicle
People
* , Danish footballer
* Carlos Velo (1909–1988), Spanish film director
* Christian Nestor Velo, Malagasy politician
* Marco Velo (born 1974), Italian cyclis ...
''. The award is given annually to the rider considered to have performed the best over the year and since 2022 there is also an award for the best female rider.
Originally,
Lance Armstrong
Lance Edward Armstrong ('' né'' Gunderson; born September 18, 1971) is an American former professional road racing cyclist. Regarded as a sports icon for winning the Tour de France seven consecutive times from 1999 to 2005 after recovering fr ...
won the Vélo d'Or five times, but his results were removed after USADA stripped him of his Tour victories. The Vélo d'Or for these years was not given to the second-ranked cyclist.
Alberto Contador
Alberto Contador Velasco (; born 6 December 1982) is a Spanish former professional cyclist. He is one of the most successful riders of his era, winning the Tour de France twice ( 2007, 2009), the Giro d'Italia twice (2008, 2015), and the V ...
holds the record of winning the award four times.
There is also another distinction for French racers named "
Vélo d'Or français" and since 2023 also for the best
Classics rider in the world for men and women, named "Trophée Eddy Merckx".
Recipients
Men
Women
Eddy Merckx Trophy Men
Eddy Merckx Trophy Women
References
External links
''Vélo Magazine'' Website ''Vélo d'Or'' article
{{DEFAULTSORT:Velo dor
Cycle racing
Cycling awards