The 18 Greatest Tour de France Champions of All Time

Five-time legends share the podium with modern climbers and one deeply controversial name, spanning over a century of yellow jersey history. Where do you stand?

1

Eddy Merckx

Belgian legend who won five Tours and holds the record of 34 stage wins, dominating every category of the race.

1000pts

2

Louison Bobet

French rider who won three consecutive Tours in the mid-1950s.

785pts

3

Jonas Vingegaard

Danish climber who beat Pogačar for back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023.

750pts

4

Carlos Sastre

Spanish 2008 champion who sealed his win with a decisive mountain attack on Alpe d'Huez.

700pts

5

Bernard Hinault

French five-time champion known as 'The Badger' for his combative, aggressive racing style.

643pts

6

Alberto Contador

Spanish two-time champion celebrated for his explosive attacking style in the mountains.

576pts

7

Greg LeMond

The first non-European Tour winner, three-time champion who overcame a near-fatal hunting accident.

500pts

8

Jacques Anquetil

The first rider to win five Tours de France, a time-trial specialist active in the 1950s-60s.

409pts

9

Lance Armstrong

American rider whose seven consecutive wins were later stripped for doping, remaining the sport's most controversial figure.

409pts

10

Fausto Coppi

Italian post-war great and two-time champion, considered one of the sport's first modern superstars.

409pts

11

Stephen Roche

Irish rider who completed the rare Triple Crown of cycling in 1987, including the Tour.

300pts

12

Bradley Wiggins

The first British winner of the Tour de France, triumphing in 2012 en route to Olympic gold.

300pts

13

Vincenzo Nibali

Italian all-rounder and 2014 champion nicknamed 'The Shark' for his descending skill.

300pts

14

Marco Pantani

Italian climbing icon who won the Tour and Giro double in 1998 with electrifying mountain solos.

300pts

15

Miguel Indurain

Spanish rider who won five consecutive Tours (1991-1995) through metronomic time-trial dominance.

300pts

16

Tadej Pogačar

Slovenian phenom with four Tour titles as of 2025, renowned for explosive mountain attacks.

167pts

17

Chris Froome

British four-time champion who anchored Team Sky's dominant run through the 2010s.

167pts

18

Laurent Fignon

French two-time champion who lost the closest Tour ever by eight seconds in 1989.

167pts