Mathieu van der Poel from Hoogerheide and Niels Laros from Oosterhout have been named Sportsman and Young Talent of the Year at the annual Sports Gala in Utrecht. For cyclist Van der Poel it is the second time in his career. .He became Sportsman of the Year for the first time in 2019.
Athlete Niels Laros from Oosterhout was chosen as Young Talent of 2023. The 18-year-old athlete who focuses on medium and long distances was presented with this prize on Wednesday evening during the Sports Gala. This year, Laros improved, among other things, a 22-year-old Dutch record for the 1500 meters.
World title
The 28-year-old Van der Poel won the world road title in August, 38 years after Joop Zoetemelk, in the streets of Glasgow. The cyclist received the most votes in the election from his fellow top athletes and the professional jury. He was absent from the Sports Gala. National coach Koos Moerenhout received the accompanying Jaap Eden Award for him.
Cycling monuments
Van der Poel is the successor to racing driver Max Verstappen, who was also one of the nominees this year. The third candidate for the election was track cyclist Harrie Lavreysen from Luyksgestel.
Van der Poel experienced more successes in 2023. In the winter he became cyclo-cross world champion for the fifth time. He also added two cycling monuments to his list of honors with impressive victories in the classics Milan-San Remo and Paris-Roubaix.