Who is the greatest Giro d'Italia champion of all time?

From Fausto Coppi's post-war dominance to Tadej Pogačar's record-breaking 2024 triumph, the Giro d'Italia has been won by cycling's greatest — who deserves the crown as the greatest maglia rosa champion of all time?

1

Eddy Merckx

The Cannibal won the Giro five times (1968, 1969, 1972, 1973, 1974), dominating through unmatched climbing, time-trialling, and tactical control in one of cycling's greatest careers.

1000pts

2

Fausto Coppi

Il Campionissimo claimed five Giro titles (1940, 1947, 1949, 1952, 1953) and is considered the greatest Italian cyclist ever, winning the youngest Giro champion title at just 20.

734pts

3

Egan Bernal

The Colombian climber who won the 2021 Giro in brilliant style after recovering from a career-threatening crash, delivering one of the sport's most inspiring comeback victories.

692pts

4

Tadej Pogačar

The Slovenian prodigy won the 2024 Giro in dominant fashion, completing an unprecedented Giro-Tour double that year and establishing himself as cycling's generational talent.

672pts

5

Vincenzo Nibali

The Shark of the Strait won the Giro twice (2013, 2016) as the last Italian to claim the maglia rosa, becoming a national hero in the home race.

629pts

6

Bernard Hinault

The Badger won three Giros (1980, 1982, 1985) as part of his five Grand Tour victories, famous for his aggressive racing style and iron will to win at all costs.

512pts

7

Jonas Vingegaard

The Danish Tour de France champion added the 2025 and 2026 Giro titles to his palmares, becoming one of the rare riders to conquer both the Tour and the Giro in consecutive years.

512pts

8

Alfredo Binda

The earliest of the Giro legends, Binda won five times (1925, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1933) and was so dominant that in 1930 organizers paid him not to race to make it competitive.

329pts

9

Gino Bartali

The great rival of Coppi and a three-time Giro champion (1936, 1938, 1946), Bartali's story is entwined with Italian wartime history when he secretly smuggled documents for the Resistance.

329pts

10

Tom Dumoulin

The Dutch time-trial specialist who won the 2017 Giro in a thrilling final time trial by just 31 seconds, becoming his country's first Giro champion in modern history.

329pts

11

Miguel Indurain

The Spanish maestro won consecutive Giros in 1992 and 1993 while also winning five consecutive Tours de France, showcasing a unique combination of time-trial and climbing ability.

192pts

12

Marco Pantani

Il Pirata won the stunning 1998 Giro-Tour double with dazzling climbing attacks, becoming the last man to win both Grand Tours in the same year and a beloved tragic figure of the sport.

192pts