Wie was de beste knecht van het seizoen? Dit zijn de 16 genomineerden voor de verkiezing!  

Bergop tot de laatste drie kilometer voor de top een verschroeiend tempo opleggen, urenlang op kop rijden om de boel te controleren, de sprint aantrekken; knechten kun je op vele manieren doen in het peloton. En het is ook lastig te vergelijken met elkaar.

Toch doen de twee jonge Belgen achter het Twitter-account Domestique (het internationale woord voor knecht) een poging. Met onderstaande 16 namen houden ze de komende tijd een Twitter-verkiezing. Kun jij je vinden in het lijstje? En op wie zou/ga je stemmen?

🚨 Domestique Of The Year! 🚨

At the end of this week we'll start our Domestique Of The Year contest. Follow this thread if you want to discover our 16 nominees. Later on you'll be able to vote for your favorite domestique of the 2021 season during the battles.

Let's go! 👇

— Domestique (@Cyclingvision) October 11, 2021

Nominee 2: 🇨🇵 Valentin Madouas

Madouas helped his leader David Gaudu on his search for a stage win during this year's #TDF. Last month he launched his countryman Julian Alaphilippe towards his second world title. Reasons enough to give him a spot in this contest!

📸 @GettySport pic.twitter.com/yAeWx2ihFO

— Domestique (@Cyclingvision) October 11, 2021

Nominee 4: 🇸🇮 Jan Tratnik

Ljubljana 1990, a child is born. His name is Jan. That kid became, 31 years later, an understanding in cycling. Everywhere he starts, he's seen in front of the bunch. Remember #Tokyo2020, he impressed friends and enemies.

📸 @bettiniphoto pic.twitter.com/jW69y7R830

— Domestique (@Cyclingvision) October 11, 2021

Nominee 6: 🇩🇰 Michael Morkov

“Many sprinters would win with him as the last man on the sprint train,” said @marcelkittel. He was the lead-out man for Bennett in his green year, but this year he made history with Cav. And oh, Olympic Gold with @Lasse_Norman.

📸 @lequipe pic.twitter.com/lRVXLQXw75

— Domestique (@Cyclingvision) October 12, 2021

Nominee 8: 🇺🇲 Sepp Kuss

We know Sepp Kuss as one of the best climbing domestiques of the peloton. Last year he won this contest and he confirmed that status in 2021 by playing a major role in the GC victory of Primoz Roglic in La Vuelta. @JumboVismaRoad has gold in its hands! pic.twitter.com/Aj7mQndBNW

— Domestique (@Cyclingvision) October 12, 2021

Nominee 10: 🇵🇱 Rafal Majka

The 2nd Polish rider in this contest. @TeamEmiratesUAE picked him to strengthen the team around Tadej Pogacar. In his first year for the team Rafal was immediately crucial by acting as super domestique in the second #TDF win of Pogacar.

📸 @GettySport pic.twitter.com/IERHp5CrRY

— Domestique (@Cyclingvision) October 12, 2021

Nominee 12: 🇧🇪 Nathan Van Hooydonck

28/03, Gent-Wevelgem. Echelons at the start created mayhem, even before the hill section. Third time Kemmelberg, we saw white teeth. Van Hooydonck fought to the top to help his leader, Van Aert. Pain on the face, but no quitting.

📸 @hbvl pic.twitter.com/Nu7vqRZ8ww

— Domestique (@Cyclingvision) October 12, 2021

Nominee 14: 🇪🇸 Jonathan Castroviejo

Being a domestique in Giro and Tour this year, Castroviejo gave his all for his leaders in 42 GT stages. Remember him pulling on uphill sections every time untill the last piece of energy was gone? Impressive, time after time!

📸 @GettySport pic.twitter.com/lnnAHf4vnn

— Domestique (@Cyclingvision) October 13, 2021

Nominee 15: 🇨🇵 Audrey Cordon-Ragot

As one of the pillars of @TrekSegafredo the role of Cordon-Ragot can't be underestimated. Most of the races she sacrifices her own chances to serve the team's goal. For several years now Audrey has been a reliable domestique!

📸 @GettySport pic.twitter.com/i591ahpBaT

— Domestique (@Cyclingvision) October 13, 2021

Vanaf vandaag verschijnen er polls op de tijdlijn van het account om de knecht van het jaar te bepalen. Dus houd de Twitters van @CyclingVision in de gaten om mee te stemmen!