One of the annual traditions of Cyclocross Magazine is reflecting back on a year filled with reviewing products and award those that struck us as the best of the best in the realms of cyclocross, gravel and cycling gear. Over the course of the next few weeks, we will be releasing all of the awards one day at a time. Be sure to keep checking back to see what products are most worth your hard-earned dollars. Issue 28 also has the Editors’ Awards and the Readers’ Choice awards, so be sure to order your backcopy today, which is also available on Uberflip, in the App Store on iTunes, and on Google Play for Android.
Mathieu van der Poel climbing to the stairs to a life-changing experience and jersey. © Mike Albright / Cyclocross Magazine
For today’s Readers’ Choice Awards, we dive deep into the popularity contests of athletes rather than products. While our Editors’ Awards will look at Domestic and International Stars, we wanted our readers to express who they felt was the best overall, and who was the most improved cyclocross racer in the 2014-15 season
Most Improved Male and Overall Male Cyclocrosser: Mathieu van der Poel
No Surprise that Mathieu van der Poel was our reader’s favorite in both categories. Both Wout van Aert and Van der Poel have dominated the major races since the time they were Juniors and U23 riders, but the 2014-15 season was highlighted by the Dutch rider’s tenacity to pull away from a race early and stay out ahead. The young rider risked a non-return to the U23 categories, and was rewarded for his courage at Tabor.
Most Improved Female: Ellen Noble
Ellen Noble riding to the U23 title in Austin. © Cyclocross Magazine
Who else but Noble? This season saw her move from New England’s lovable kid racer to a national force to be reckoned with in the Women’s Elite races. In the early races of the season, at Nittany Lion CX, she showed flashes of her growing talent with a podium finish, and then took off with wins at Baystate, NBX and the Resolution Cup. With one of the biggest jumps in cyclocross, we are eagerly awaiting to see what she can do on the international stage in 2015.
Overall Female Cyclocrosser: Sanne Cant
Sanne Cant battled furiously down to the wire. Elite Women – 2015 Cyclocross World Championships © Mike Albright / Cyclocross Magazine
Cant stop, won’t stop. Sanne Cant was the winner of the Overall Female Cyclocrosser in our 2015 Readers’ Choice Awards. Our readers may have bypassed the former and current world champions, but stuck true to the woman whose one and only love is cyclocross.
Be sure to keep checking back to our Readers’ and Editors’ Award Pages for day by day updates.
