Ms Vos won the world cyclo-cross championships twice as well a gold medal at last year’s Olympics in Beijing.The Sports Man of the Year went to gymnast Epke Zonderland. He won silver on the bars at the World Gymnastic Championships in London. Mr Zonderland was the Dutch Olympic hope on the bars, but came seventh after a dramatic fall.

Bayern München coach Louis van Gaal was voted Coach of the Year. Last season he made Alkmaar’s AZ the Premier League champions. The Team of the Year went to the women’s medley swimmers, who won this year’s world champion in the 4x100m freestyle. They also won gold in Beijing.

Best Handicapped Sportsperson of the Year is hand cyclist’s Monique van der Vorst, who won silver and bronze at the World Championships and won the European triathlon title. She also won the World Ironman championships in Hawaii. Last year she won two silver medals in Beijing.