Tim DeKlerk wins "Crystal Sweat Drop" Domestique Top Award

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Tim DeKlerk wins "Crystal Sweat Drop" Domestique Top Award

Deceuninck-QuickStep's domestique Tim Declercq won the Crystal Sweat Drop award from Het Laatste Nieuws, part of Kristallen Fiets (Crystal Bicycle) week, as the 2020 Belgian peloton as the best domestique.

The 31-year-old will retain the title he won in 2018 and 2019, when the award was also voted for by readers. He was a fixture at the front of the peloton throughout the season and was a key rider as the Belgian powerhouse won three stages at the Tour de France, including two sprint victories, to take the green jersey from Sam Bennett.

Declercq beat teammate Dries Devenance to win the award with 7,198 votes to 6,598. Jonas Rickert of the Alpecin Phoenix finished third with 1,122 points.

Nicknamed "El Tractor" by Argentine commentators after the 2017 Vuelta a San Juan, his first race with Deceuninck-QuickStep, DeClercq was given the nickname by teammate and training partner Yves Lampert delivered the award by tractor (opens in new tab).

"The ideal helper always puts the team's interests before his personal interests," Declercq told Het Laatste Nieuws (opens in new tab). 'He disappears completely.'

Declercq has yet to win a race since turning pro with TopSport Van Deren in 2012, but he came close at the final round of the 2020 season, the Driedergues Brugge des Pannees, finishing second, 21 seconds behind Lampert.

Earlier in the year, however, he was named the top domestique in the peloton by his peers during Cycling News' Domestique Week, winning off the bike.

Tibau Nys, son of cyclocross legend Sven, was named young rider of the year, joining Ilan van Wilder (Team DSM) and Remco Evenpol (Deceuninck-QuickStep). 18-year-old Telenet Baloise Lions rider dominated the 2019-20 junior cyclo-cross calendar with 22 wins, including European and World Championships and UCI World Cup.

Kristallen Fiets continued this week with awards for best female rider (Sanne Cant won last year), best coach (Patrick Lefevere, for the seventh time), and best male rider (Remco Evenepoel) in the Crystal Bicycle Crystal Bicycle), which will be awarded to the best male rider (Remco Evenepoel).

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