Demi Vollering and Mathieu van der Poel captured the top Dutch cycling honors for 2026 at the annual cycling gala, nos.nl reported, after dominant seasons featuring multiple monument wins, world titles, and dramatic Tour de France stages. Vollering secured the Keetie van Oosten-Hage Trofee following a year in which she won nearly every line race she started, while Van der Poel claimed his fifth Gerrit Schulte Trofee.
Mathieu van der Poel Claims Fifth Gerrit Schulte Trofee
Mathieu van der Poel was voted the best Dutch male cyclist of 2026, collecting the Gerrit Schulte Trofee for the fifth time in his career, Omroep Brabant reported. The 31-year-old all-rounder edged fellow nominees Olav Kooij, BMX rider Jaymio Brink, and track cyclists Jeffrey Hoogland and Harrie Lavreysen after votes were tallied from the Club 48 of former pros, active riders, and the public via Wielerflits. Van der Poel was not present in Utrecht to accept the award in person and instead thanked voters via a videobudget message, according to Wielerflits.
Van der Poel’s 2026 campaign featured his eighth cyclo-cross world title in Hulst, alongside spring classics victories at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and the E3 Saxo Classic. In the latter race, he launched a solo attack of over forty kilometers, stopping his pedals with one kilometer remaining as chasers neared before surging again when the chase stalled. He also claimed two stages at Tirreno-Adriatico, finished second in the Tour of Flanders, won two stages in the Tour de France—highlighted by a victory on the Champs-Élysées after an attack with Tadej Pogacar on Montmartre—and secured a bronze medal at the world road race championships in Montréal.
Demi Vollering Dominates Road Season to Win Women’s Award
Demi Vollering’s stellar 2026 season culminated in her selection as the top Dutch female cyclist, nos.nl reported. Her victories included Omloop het Nieuwsblad, the Tour of Flanders, Flèche Wallonne, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, two stages and the overall at the Giro d’Italia, three stages and the general classification at the Tour de France Femmes, and both the European and World Championship road race titles. Her world title victory in Canada required mental resilience after rivals including Kasia Niewiadoma bridged the gap before Vollering prevailed in the sprint.
The national women’s selection under coach Laurens ten Dam was simultaneously named Cycling Team of the Year, according to wielerflits.be. Riders such as Puck Pieterse, who took European Championship silver, and Riejanne Markus, who served as road captain twice, regularly worked in support of Vollering during her championship runs.
Wout Poels Extends Career With Unibet Rose Rockets
Wout Poels announced at the cycling gala that he will race for another professional season, nos.nl reported. The 39-year-old Limburg climber extended his contract with the French-Dutch team Unibet Rose Rockets by one year. Poels, who won Liège-Bastogne-Liège in 2016 and stage victories in both the Tour de France and Vuelta a España in 2023, competed in the Giro d’Italia with the team this season.
Other award winners included Ryan Gal, who was named talent of the year following his under-23 world time trial title. Track sprinter Harrie Lavreysen missed out on the main men’s award despite capturing three world titles at the world championships in China, Omroep Brabant noted.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2026 Dutch Cycling Gala
How many times has Mathieu van der Poel won the Gerrit Schulte Trofee?
Mathieu van der Poel has won the Gerrit Schulte Trofee five times, matching the totals of Jan Janssen, Michael Boogerd, and Tom Dumoulin, according to Wielerflits. The all-time record is held by Joop Zoetemelk, who won the award nine times between 1972 and 1985.
Which races did Demi Vollering win during the 2026 season?
nos.nl reported that Vollering won Omloop het Nieuwsblad, the Tour of Flanders, Flèche Wallonne, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the Giro d’Italia with two stage wins, the Tour de France Femmes with three stage wins, and both the European and World Championship road races.
Who coaches the Dutch women’s team that won Team of the Year?
wielerflits.be reported that the national women’s selection operates under the leadership of bondscoach Laurens ten Dam.
What team does Wout Poels ride for?
nos.nl reported that Wout Poels competes for the French-Dutch team Unibet Rose Rockets, with whom he has extended his contract through the upcoming season.