The French countryside paints a new picture each July. For cyclists, it is the biggest challenge of them all. They push their bodies to the absolute limit. Every rider dreams of wearing that famous yellow jersey. Winning the Tour de France means cementing your name in sports history.
One rider who came incredibly close to that ultimate prize was Joaquim Agostinho. This Portuguese cycling icon managed to grab third place not once, but twice. He finished strong in both 1978 and 1979. This was a unique achievement for a rider from his nation. No one since has matched his remarkable effort. It shows just how tough the Tour truly is.
Over more than a century, many legends have emerged from this grueling race. The Tour has seen incredible battles. It has also witnessed moments of pure dominance. We are currently seeing a fantastic rivalry unfold. Tadej Pogačar from Slovenia and Jonas Vingegaard from Denmark are trading blows. Pogačar won in 2020, 2021, and again in 2024. Vingegaard claimed victory in 2022 and 2023. These two riders are adding thrilling chapters to the Tour’s story.
Looking back, certain names stand out with multiple victories. Chris Froome of Great Britain rode to glory four times. Spanish legend Miguel Indurain holds five wins in a row. He truly dominated the early 1990s. Before him, giants like Eddy Merckx of Belgium and Jacques Anquetil of France also racked up five titles each. Their names echo through the canyons and mountains of France.
The Tour’s history also holds some tough moments. There were years when the winner’s spot was left empty. This happened due to serious doping issues. Lance Armstrong’s wins from 1999 to 2005 were wiped clean. The Tour decided not to give those titles to other riders. They called it a “dark period” for the sport. Other riders, like Floyd Landis and Alberto Contador, also had their victories removed. Landis lost his 2006 title for a positive testosterone test. Contador’s 2009 win was taken away due to a clenbuterol positive. These events remind us of the challenges cycling has faced. Yet, the Tour keeps rolling, celebrating clean competition.
Here is a look at the champions who have conquered the Tour de France:
- 2024 Tadej Pogacar, Slo
- 2023 Jonas Vingegaard, Din
- 2022 Jonas Vingegaard, Din
- 2021 Tadej Pogacar, Slo
- 2020 Tadej Pogacar, Slo
- 2019 Egan Bernal, Col
- 2018 Geraint Thomas, GB
- 2017 Chris Froome, GB
- 2016 Chris Froome, GB
- 2015 Chris Froome, GB
- 2014 Vincenzo Nibali, Ita
- 2013 Chris Froome, GB
- 2012 Bradley Wiggins, GB
- 2011 Cadel Evans, Aus
- 2010 Andy Schleck, Lux
- *2009 Alberto Contador, Esp
- 2008 Carlos Sastre, Esp
- **2006 Oscar Pereiro, Esp
- ***2005 No winner
- ***2004 No winner
- ***2003 No winner
- ***2002 No winner
- ***2001 No winner
- ***2000 No winner
- ***1999 No winner
- 1998 Marco Pantani, Ita
- 1997 Jan Ullrich, Ale
- 1996 Bjarne Riis, Din
- 1995 Miguel Indurain, Esp
- 1994 Miguel Indurain, Esp
- 1993 Miguel Indurain, Esp
- 1992 Miguel Indurain, Esp
- 1991 Miguel Indurain, Esp
- 1990 Greg Lemond, EUA
- 1989 Greg Lemond, EUA
- 1988 Pedro Delgado, Esp
- 1987 Stephen Roche, Irl
- 1986 Greg Lemond, EUA
- 1985 Bernard Hinault, Fra
- 1984 Laurent Fignon, Fra
- 1983 Laurent Fignon, Fra
- 1982 Bernard Hinault, Fra
- 1981 Bernard Hinault, Fra
- 1980 Joop Zoetemelk, Hol
- 1979 Bernard Hinault, Fra
- 1978 Bernard Hinault, Fra
- 1977 Bernard Thévenet, Fra
- 1976 Lucien Van Impe, Bel
- 1975 Bernard Thévenet, Fra
- 1974 Eddy Merckx, Bel
- 1973 Luis Ocaña, Esp
- 1972 Eddy Merckx, Bel
- 1971 Eddy Merckx, Bel
- 1970 Eddy Merckx, Bel
- 1969 Eddy Merckx, Bel
- 1968 Jan Janssen, Hol
- 1967 Roger Pingeon, Fra
- 1966 Lucien Aimar, Fra
- 1965 Felice Gimondi, Ita
- 1964 Jacques Anquetil, Fra
- 1963 Jacques Anquetil, Fra
- 1962 Jacques Anquetil, Fra
- 1961 Jacques Anquetil, Fra
- 1960 Gastone Nencini, Ita
- 1959 Federico Bahamontes, Esp
- 1958 Charly Gaul, Lux
- 1957 Jacques Anquetil, Fra
- 1956 Roger Walkowiak, Fra
- 1955 Louison Bobet, Fra
- 1954 Louison Bobet, Fra
- 1953 Louison Bobet, Fra
- 1952 Fausto Coppi, Ita
- 1951 Hugo Koblet, Sui
- 1950 Ferdi Kubler, Sui
- 1949 Fausto Coppi, Ita
- 1948 Gino Bartali, Ita
- 1947 Jean Robic, Fra
- 1939 Sylvère Maes, Bel
- 1938 Gino Bartali, Ita
- 1937 Roger Lapébie, Fra
- 1936 Sylvère Maes, Bel
- 1935 Romain Maes, Bel
- 1934 Antonin Magne, Fra
- 1933 Georges Speicher, Fra
- 1932 André Leducq, Fra
- 1931 Antonin Magne, Fra
- 1930 André Leducq, Fra
- 1929 Maurice De Waele, Bel
- 1928 Nicolas Frantz, Lux
- 1927 Nicolas Frantz, Lux
- 1926 Lucien Buysse, Bel
- 1925 Ottavio Bottecchia, Ita
- 1924 Ottavio Bottecchia, Ita
- 1923 Henri Pélissier, Fra
- 1922 Firmin Lambot, Bel
- 1921 Léon Scieur, Bel
- 1920 Philippe Thys, Bel
- 1919 Firmin Lambot, Bel
- 1914 Philippe Thys, Bel
- 1913 Philippe Thys, Bel
- 1912 Odile Defraye, Bel
- 1911 Gustave Garrigou, Fra
- 1910 Octave Lapize, Fra
- 1909 François Faber, Lux
- 1908 Lucien Petit-Breton, Fra
- 1907 Lucien Petit-Breton, Fra
- 1906 René Pottier, Fra
- 1905 Louis Trousselier, Fra
- 1904 Henri Cornet, Fra
- 1903 Maurice Garin, Fra
* Alberto Contador (Esp) was disqualified for a positive clenbuterol test.
** Floyd Landis (EUA) was disqualified for a positive testosterone test.
*** Lance Armstrong (EUA) had all his results from 1998 onward annulled due to doping. The Tour organization chose not to reassign these victories, calling this a “dark period” in cycling’s story.