Tadej Pogačar and Demi Vollering lead the shortlists for the 2026 Vélo d’Or awards, as France’s Vélo Magazine and a jury of international cycling journalists prepare to honor the year’s top road riders on November 28 in Paris, cyclingnews.com reported.
Men’s Contenders Highlight Grand Tour Wins
Three-time winner Tadej Pogačar returns to the men’s shortlist after securing his fifth Tour de France title. He’s joined on the UAE Team Emirates-XRG roster by teammates Isaac del Toro and world champion Brandon McNulty, according to cyclingflash.com. Additional Grand Tour victors Jonas Vingegaard and Enric Mas also earned nominations, alongside Paul Seixas, Remco Evenepoel, and Felix Gall. The field of nominees features only two Classics specialists: Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert.
Tadej Pogačar and Demi Vollering equally dominant in 2026 UCI rankings https://t.co/kKC6za5vKF
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For the men’s Classics rider category, the nominees include Remco Evenepoel, Tadej Pogačar, Paul Seixas, Wout van Aert, and Mathieu van der Poel. The sprinter category features Matthew Brennan, Paul Magnier, Tim Merlier, Jonathan Milan, and Jasper Philipsen. The French rider shortlist includes Dorian Godon, Romain Grégoire, Paul Magnier, Lenny Martinez, and Paul Seixas. Finally, the men’s rookie category lists Matthew Brennan, Jakob Omrzel, and Paul Seixas.
Women’s Field Brings New and Returning Stars
Demi Vollering stands as a primary favorite to claim her second Vélo d’Or following a dominant season with FDJ United-Suez. Last year’s winner, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, did not receive a nomination for the main award following a quiet road season, though she earned a spot on the French rider of the year shortlist, cyclingnews.com reported. Other nominees for the top women’s prize include Tour de France Femmes standouts Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney, Marlen Reusser, and Elisa Longo Borghini, alongside Paula Blasi, Antonia Niedermaier, Juliette Berthet, Anna van der Breggen, Kim Le Court-Pienaar, and Lorena Wiebes.
The women’s Classics category features Franziska Koch, Lotte Kopecky, Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney, Puck Pieterse, and Demi Vollering. The sprinter shortlist highlights Elisa Balsamo, Lara Gillespie, Charlotte Kool, Nienke Veenhoven, and Lorena Wiebes. The French rider contenders are Juliette Berthet, Marion Bunel, Pauline Ferrand-Prévôt, Célia Gery, and Cédrine Kerbaol. The women’s rookie nominations recognize Paula Blasi, Célia Gery, and Isabella Holmgren.
Paracyclist Contenders and Ceremony Details
The paracyclism category recognizes five athletes for their achievements: Louis Hubert, Florian Jouanny, Alexandre Léauté, Thomas Tarou, and Anaïs Vincent. The jury of international cycling journalists will finalize the winners ahead of the presentation.
The Vélo d’Or ceremony takes place on Saturday, November 28, in Paris, marking the culmination of the international road racing calendar.
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