Having already won a fifth title as Flandrien of the year, Greg Van Avermaet has won the Kristallen Fiets for a third consecutive season. The Olympic champion received the prize, awarded by Het Laatste Nieuws to the best Belgian rider of the year, after a poll where he beat Wout Van Aert who dominated the cyclo-cross scene and won the World Championships.. Tim Wellens completed the podium, closely followed by Tom Boonen and Thomas De Gendt.
"I realize the impact of my Olympic medal more and more,” Van Avermaet told Belga News. “I did not imagine its impact. Just look at all the ceremonies that I have to go to. It's incredible. But I remain ambitious. There are still many classics that I want to win, firstly Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix and in the longer term Liège-Bastogne-Liège.”
Van Avermaet is still using crutches but the rider from BMC Racing resumed training on the rollers and remains on track to resume his 2017 season as originally planned after he broke his ankle earlier this month.
In the women category, Jolien D'hoore took the prize ahead of Lotte Kopecky and Sanne Cant. The title of best young rider of the year was given to Bjorg Lambrecht while Iljo Keisse was the best teammate for the third consecutive time. Kevin De Weert, Belgian national coach, was awarded the title of best team manager.
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