Dutch award their best

Rudi van Houts, Frank Beemer and Rick Koekoek

Rudi van Houts, Frank Beemer and Rick Koekoek (Image credit: Marcel Slagman/Wieler Magazine)

By Marcel Slagman

Dutch mountain bikers of the year were awarded in Utrecht where Rudi van Houts took top honors as the best elite racer. He finished 12th at the UCI World Championships in Val di Sole, Italy, and 13th at the European Championships. He also represented The Netherlands at the Olympic Games in Beijing.

Elsbeth Vink was named best female cyclist in her final last season racing. Vink was Dutch Champion, and she finished sixth at the European Championships and 14th at the Olympics.

Frank Beemer was named best mountain biker after his eighth place at the World Championships in Italy.

New for this year were awards for gravity riders. Anneke Beerten won the women's gravity award after taking the overall classification of the World Cup 4X and winning three World Cup events. Rick Koekoek won the men's gravity category by finishing third in the overall classification of the World Cup.

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