The Vélo d'Or (French for "Golden Bicycle") is an annual cycle racing award, given to the cyclist considered to have performed the best over the racing season. It is awarded by the French cycling magazineVélo Magazine, with the winner chosen by a panel of international cycling journalists.[1] The Vélo d'Or is considered one of cycling's highest individual honors, similar to the Ballon d'Or in football.[2]
Since 2022, the Vélo d'Or Femmes has also been awarded to the best female cyclist of the season.[3] Both trophies are presented each year at the Pavillon Gabriel in Paris, alongside several sub-categories: the Eddy Merckx Trophy, awarded to the best classics rider since 2023, and the Chris Hoy Trophy, awarded to the best Olympics discipline rider since 2024.[2][4] There are also awards for French riders: from 1992 to 2022, the Vélo d'Or français was given to the best overall French cyclist. Since 2023, this has been subdivided into two awards: the "Trophée Bernard Hinault" for road cycling and the "Trophée Daniel Morelon" for other cycling disciplines.[4]
Alberto Contador holds the record for the most awards, winning the Vélo d'Or four times: in 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2014. Lance Armstrong initially won the Vélo d'Or five times, but these victories were nullified after the USADA stripped him of his Tour de France titles following doping allegations and his eventual confession. The Vélo d'Or awards for these years were not reassigned to the runners-up.[5]
The Gino Mäder Prize honors rider's social commitment. It is named after cyclist Gino Mäder, who raised money and frequently spoke in support of humanitarian and environmental causes, before passing away in 2023 after a crash at the Tour de Suisse.[9]
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