42 cycling journalists from 25 different countries were on the jury, which first made a shortlist and then chose the winner. The French Velo Magazine, which belongs to the L'Equipe Group, which in turn is affiliated to the Amaury media group and is therefore also part of the Amaury Sport Organisation - i.e. the Tour de France organiser A.S.O. - organiser, awards the prize annually. For the first time, the organisers held a gala around the evening, which was broadcast live on the L'Equipe channels.
Velo d'Or Men to Tour de France winner Jonas Vingegaard
The two Tour de France winners Vingegaard and Vollering each accepted the Velo d'Or for the first time. While Vollering completely dominated the Tour, the Ardennes trio of Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Amstel Gold and Fleche Wallonne, the Tour de Romandie and Strade Bianche and only missed out on victory at the Vuelta by nine seconds, Vingegaard's Grand Tours were particularly important.
Velo d'Or 2023: Close race in the men's category, women no chance against Vollering
The Dane defended his victory in the Tour de France and finished the Vuelta in second place, as well as winning the Criterium du Dauphine and the Tour of the Basque Country. However, it was a close race in the men's race. Vingegaard finished on 142 points, van der Poel in second place on 133 and third place, Tadej Pogacar, was not far behind with 126 points.
Just like the season, Vollering also dominated the voting. She scored 171 points, Kopecky 139 and Annemiek van Vleuten 99. The two runners-up were able to console themselves with the newly created Eddy Merckx Trophy. It goes to the best classics rider of the season.
Prizes of honour for Merckx and Hinault
Merckx himself was on hand to read out the winners. Just like Bernard Hinault, whose name stands for the best French road pro (both genders in one classification) as of this year. The two legends were also awarded an honourable mention.
European champion Christophe Laporte was honoured as the best French road pro. He was joined in the final by Victor Lafay, Valentin Madouas, Juliette Labous and Thibaut Pinot. France's best athlete in the Olympic disciplines of track, mountain bike and BMX was honoured with the Daniel Modelon Trophy. Mountain bike world champion Pauline Ferrand-Prevot won against Bora-Hansgrohe pro Viktor Koretzky, among others.
Velo d'Or 2023 at a glance
- Velo d'Or Men: Jonas Vingegaard
- Velo d'Or Women: Demi Vollering
- Best classic rider: Mathieu van der Poel
- Best female classic rider: Lotte Kopecky
- Best French road rider: Christophe Laporte
- Best French rider in the Olympic disciplines MTB, BMX and track): Pauline Ferrand-Prevot
The previous winners of the Velo d'Or
- 1992: Miguel Indurain
- 1993: Miguel Indurain
- 1994: Tony Rominger
- 1995: Laurent Jalabert
- 1996: Johan Museeuw
- 1997: Jan Ullrich
- 1998: Marco Pantani
1999: Lance Armstrong2000: Lance Armstrong2001: Lance Armstrong- 2002: Mario Cipollini
2003: Lance Armstrong2004: Lance Armstrong- 2005: Tom Boonen
- 2006: Paolo Bettini
- 2007: Alberto Contador
- 2008: Alberto Contador
- 2009: Alberto Contador
- 2010: Fabian Cancellara
- 2011: Philippe Gilbert
- 2012: Bradley Wiggins
- 2013: Chris Froome
- 2014: Alberto Contador
- 2015: Chris Froome
- 2016: Peter Sagan
- 2017: Chris Froome
- 2018: Alejandro Valverde
- 2019: Julian Alaphilippe
- 2020: Primoz Roglic
- 2021: Tadej Pogacar
- 2022: Remco Evenepoel
- 2023: Jonas Vingegaard
Best classic rider
- 2023: Mathieu van der Poel
Velo d'Or Ladies
- 2022: Annemiek van Vleuten
- 2023: Demi Vollering
Best classic rider
- 2023: Lotte Kopecky
*Lance Armstrong was stripped of his five Velo d'Or awards as a result of his doping offences.
