2014 was an extremely successful season for Dutch cycling. The Dutch riders achieved a lot, with Niki Terpstra and Lars Boom delivering the abolute highlights. Tonight the rider of the year will be chosen at a cycling gala. Who will get the prestigious award?

This year it seems to be a battle between Paris-Roubaix winner Niki Terpstra and Lars Boom who won the legendary fifth stage of the Tour de France. But Michiel van der Heijden (world mountain bike champion), Tom Dumoulin (third in the World Time Trial Championships) and Lars van der Haar (Cyclo-Cross World Cup winner) are also nominated.

"Even though Boom's win was beautiful, Terpstra has won the queen of the classics. Paris-Roubaix is a step higher," reporter Han Kock told NOS. "Both performances are very special.

"For me the key that gives extra significance is that Paris-Roubaix was almost hundred kilometers longer than the stage that Boom won. Moreover Terpstra rode against real specialists, so that makes the performance a bit bigger than the one Boom delivered in the Tour.

"Tom Dumoulin can also look back on a great season. He has proved to be very intelligent. I expect that Terpstra will take the prize."

Radio commentator Sebastian Carpenter describes it as "a difficult decision" to find out who deserves the title. 

"Terpstra and Boom are obvious but do not forget Michiel van der Heijden. He is the only nominee to have become world champion.

"I think it is particularly nice that he has followed his own path. I remember that he in 2004 he told me that he wanted to move from the track to the road. Like many others I thought "Boy, just give it a try but I won't give you much of a chance. He has proved me wrong."

As a former rider, Maarten Ducrot is eligible to vote at the gala. 

"In terms of results I go with Terpstra. The way he rode this spring will not be seen again," the commentator told NOS. "Lars Boom was also very good, but Terpstra won Paris-Roubaix, the monument of monuments.

"The rise of Tom Dumoulin appeals to me. He has done so well in all those time trials. In the next few years we can expect much of him."