Vélo d’Or 2025: Full list of nominees revealed across all categories

Vélo Magazine has released the full list of nominees for the 2025 Vélo d’Or awards, which will honour the best riders of the season across several major categories. The awards ceremony will take place in Paris on 5 December, recognising excellence throughout a packed year of road racing.

The Vélo d’Or – literally “Golden Bike” – rewards the rider judged to have been the best overall across the entire season, taking into account consistency, versatility and the prestige of victories. It is widely considered cycling’s equivalent of football’s Ballon d’Or and is awarded by Vélo Magazine based on votes from international journalists.

Alongside the main awards, the Eddy Merckx Trophy recognises the best classics rider of the season, while the Bernard Hinault Trophy honours the best French rider of the year, reflecting the sport’s deep domestic roots.

Vélo d’Or (Men)

The men’s Vélo d’Or remains Tadej Pogačar’s to lose after another stunning season, with Tour de France and World Championship victories marking him out as the dominant figure in world cycling. He faces competition from multiple Grand Tour and Classics winners.

Nominees:

• João Almeida (Portugal, UAE Team Emirates)
• Isaac Del Toro (Mexico, UAE Team Emirates)
• Remco Evenepoel (Belgium, Soudal Quick-Step)
• Ben Healy (Ireland, EF Education-EasyPost)
• Tim Merlier (Belgium, Soudal Quick-Step)
• Mads Pedersen (Denmark, Lidl–Trek)
• Tadej Pogačar (Slovenia, UAE Team Emirates)
• Mathieu van der Poel (Netherlands, Alpecin-Deceuninck)
• Jonas Vingegaard (Denmark, Team Visma | Lease a Bike)
• Simon Yates (Great Britain, Team Visma | Lease a Bike)

Photo Credit: Getty

Vélo d’Or (Women)

With defending champion Lotte Kopecky sidelined for much of the year, the 2025 Vélo d’Or Femmes promises a fresh name on the trophy. Lorena Wiebes, Demi Vollering, Marlen Reusser and Pauline Ferrand-Prévot headline a world-class shortlist that reflects the growing depth of women’s cycling.

Nominees:

• Mischa Bredewold (Netherlands, Team SD Worx-Protime)
• Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (France, Team Visma | Lease a Bike)
• Kimberley Le Court (Mauritius, AG Insurance–Soudal Team)
• Elisa Longo Borghini (Italy, UAE Team ADQ)
• Kasia Niewiadoma (Poland, Canyon SRAM Zondacrypto)
• Puck Pieterse (Netherlands, Fenix-Deceuninck)
• Marlen Reusser (Switzerland, Movistar Team)
• Demi Vollering (Netherlands, FDJ-Suez)
• Marianne Vos (Netherlands, Team Visma | Lease a Bike)
• Lorena Wiebes (Netherlands, Team SD Worx-Protime)

Photo Credit: Getty

Eddy Merckx Trophy – Best Classics Rider

Named after one of cycling’s greatest legends, this trophy rewards the best performer across the one-day classics, from the cobbles of Flanders to the hills of the Ardennes.

Men:

• Remco Evenepoel (Belgium, Soudal Quick-Step)
• Mads Pedersen (Denmark, Lidl–Trek)
• Tadej Pogačar (Slovenia, UAE Team Emirates)
• Wout van Aert (Belgium, Team Visma | Lease a Bike)
• Mathieu van der Poel (Netherlands, Alpecin-Deceuninck)

Women:

• Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (France, Team Visma | Lease a Bike)
• Kimberley Le Court (Mauritius, AG Insurance–Soudal Team)
• Puck Pieterse (Netherlands, Fenix-Deceuninck)
• Demi Vollering (Netherlands, FDJ-Suez)
• Lorena Wiebes (Netherlands, Team SD Worx-Protime)

Bernard Hinault Trophy – Best French Rider

This award celebrates the top French rider of the season, named after the five-time Tour de France winner who remains a symbol of national cycling pride.

Men:

• Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor Pro Cycling Team)
• Bruno Armirail (Decathlon–AG2R La Mondiale)
• Dorian Godon (Decathlon–AG2R La Mondiale)
• Romain Grégoire (Groupama-FDJ)
• Victor Koretzky (Specialized Factory Racing)
• Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick-Step)
• Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious)
• Paul Seixas (Decathlon–AG2R La Mondiale)
• Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal Quick-Step)
• Kévin Vauquelin (Arkéa–B&B Hotels)

Women:

• Marion Bunel (Team Visma | Lease a Bike)
• Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Team Visma | Lease a Bike)
• Cédrine Kerbaol (EF Education-Oatly)
• Juliette Labous (FDJ-Suez)
• Maëva Squiban (UAE Team ADQ)

Best French Para-Cyclist Trophy

The para-cycling award honours the most outstanding French athlete competing in para-cycling disciplines across the year.

Nominees:

• Mathieu Bosredon (Cofidis)
• Florian Jouanny (Grenoble Métropole Cycling 38)
• Alexandre Léauté (VCP Loudéac)
• Mattis Lebeau (CC Isère Cycling)
• Anaïs Vincent (VC Rumillien)

Since its inception in 1992, the Vélo d’Or has recognised the sport’s biggest names, from Miguel Indurain and Alberto Contador to Lotte Kopecky and Demi Vollering. With the 2025 season now complete, all eyes turn to Paris in December, where cycling’s most prestigious individual honour will once again find its next champion.