Pa Evenepoel receives Sportjuweel instead of Remco: "Children cannot do without parents"

Gradually, Quick Step rider Remco Evenepoel’s trophy treasury began to bulge. The now world champion is also seeing the culmination of his stellar year with Vlaams Sportjuweel. Father Patrick Evenboul received the trophy from Flemish Sports Minister Ben Witts, because Remko himself is on a training period.

The number of year-end awards for Remco Evenepoel (22) can no longer be counted on one hand. Earlier, he was also elected winner of the National Cup for Sporting Merit, Flemish Reus, Crystal Viets, Flandrin and Vilo d’Or.

Evenepoel is also a favorite for the Athlete of the Year award, which will be awarded on January 6.

Tonight he was awarded the Vlaams Sportjuweel Award. With this award, the Flemish government rewards an athlete or team that has performed outstandingly or completed an exceptional career during the year.

Athletes can receive the award only once in their sports career. There is no cash prize, but an 18 kilogram prize.

Remco Evenepoel (22) gave our country its first overall victory in the Vuelta since 1978. He was also crowned road world champion and won Liège-Bastogne-Liège in the spring, both after a penalty number.

Evenepoel’s rivals for Vlaams Sportjuweel also put in the best performances. Lotte Kopecky has won the Strade Bianche title, the Tour of Flanders, and 2 world titles on the track.

Emma Plasschaert succeeded in achieving the world title in the laser radial at the end of 2021 and took the bronze of the World Cup in October. But that wasn’t enough to win Vlaams Sportjuweel the title.

Patrick Evenpoel: “It’s a pity that Remco is so busy”

“I want to thank everyone for voting for me. Every award is always a great honour,” Evenboul said in a video message from his apprenticeship at Calpe.

“I’m so sorry I won’t be at the awards ceremony tonight. I have a lot of training and a lot of commitment to the team.”

Remko’s father, Patrick Evenboul, received the award in place of his son. “I’ve had to regularly receive awards for Remco in recent weeks, but I do so with pleasure. You see once again that children are nothing without their parents,” he said, laughing.

“I am very proud of Remco, but all parents will undoubtedly be there for their children. Every award creates feelings and every award matters.”

Patrick Evenpoel hasn’t seen Remco much in recent months. “It’s unfortunate. Remco is very busy with all kinds of commitments, athletic and extra-sport, but that’s the destiny of a successful athlete.”

“And of course there has to be training too, because he wants to be there again next year in the rainbow jersey. Luckily, Christmas is just around the corner. Then we can celebrate the year together.”

Jelly Spruit is the Gym Trainer of the Year

In addition to Remco Evenepoel, a few other people from the world of sports have also won awards.

Jill Spruitt was elected as her Sports Coach of the Year. Spruyt is the coach of Bart Swings, who won gold in the mass start at the Winter Games.

price The best sports speaker of 2022 He went to physiotherapist Martin Tessen. Thysen is also supervisor of Bart Swings, and with Professor Johan Pillmans, founder of the GRIT Sports Clinic.

Award winning Hottest Sport initiative Soccer girls have become lovin’. The club caters to girls who want to play football but are hard to reach or don’t dare to go to the club themselves. The goal is to remove all financial, sporting and logistical barriers, so that no one is sidelined.