Welcome to the ultimate countdown of the top 10 best road cyclists ever to grace the peloton. This list spotlights riders who not only conquered the three Grand Tours – the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a España – but also left their mark on prestigious week‑long stage races like the Tour de Suisse, Paris‑Nice and the Dauphiné, plus the gritty one‑day Classics such as Paris‑Roubaix and Liège‑Bastogne‑Liège. Doping allegations have been deliberately ignored, because assessing purity would turn the sport into a labyrinth of controversy.
Why These Riders Earn the top 10 best Spot
1. Jan Ullrich
German powerhouse Jan Ullrich, born in 1973, etched his name in cycling lore by clinching the 1997 Tour de France and securing the white jersey for the best young rider three years in a row (1996–1998). Remarkably, he finished runner‑up in the Tour five times, earning the bittersweet nickname “The Eternal Second.” Ullrich also triumphed in the 1999 Vuelta a España and added two Tour de Suisse victories (2004, 2006) to his résumé. He claimed the World Time‑Trial title twice (1999, 2001) and captured Olympic gold in the road race at Sydney 2000. Known for his raw strength and smooth, athletic pedalling, Ullrich occasionally struggled with off‑season weight gain, which sometimes hampered his preparation for the biggest races.
2. Lance Armstrong
American Lance Armstrong, a name synonymous with dominance, holds the record for consecutive Tour de France victories, amassing seven straight wins. Beyond the Tour, he secured the 2001 Tour de Suisse and captured the World Cycling Championship in 1993, showcasing his versatility. However, his résumé lacks notable performances in the Giro d’Italia, Vuelta a España, or the Monument Classics, which is why his placement on this list does not rank higher despite his unparalleled Tour achievements.
3. Miguel Indurain
Spain’s towering figure Miguel Indurain, born in 1964, reigned supreme with five straight Tour de France triumphs (1991–1995) and two consecutive Giro d’Italia victories (1992–1993). He also earned the Olympic Time‑Trial gold in Atlanta 1996 and the World Time‑Trial crown in 1995. Indurain’s palmarès includes dual wins in both the Dauphiné Libéré and Paris‑Nice. Standing at 1.88 m and weighing around 80 kg, he earned the moniker “Miguelón” (“Big Mig”). His extraordinary physiology allowed him to circulate roughly 7 liters of blood per minute—far above the 3–4 liters typical of non‑athletes and the 5–6 liters of his fellow cyclists.
4. Fausto Coppi
Italian legend Fausto Coppi, born in 1919, secured two Tour de France titles (1949, 1952) and a staggering five Giro d’Italia victories (1940, 1947, 1949, 1952, 1953). In 1953 he added the World Championship to his collection, while his dominance in the Italian classics is evident with multiple wins in the Giro di Lombardia (1946–1949, 1954), Milan‑San Remo (1946, 1948, 1949), Paris‑Roubaix, and La Flèche Wallonne in 1950. Coppi’s all‑round brilliance cemented his status as one of the sport’s most versatile champions.
5. Felice Gimondi
Born in 1942, Italy’s Felice Gimondi earned the nickname “The Phoenix” after his 1968 Vuelta a España victory, becoming the second rider—after Jacques Anquetil—to complete the rare Triple Crown of Grand Tour wins. Gimondi’s résumé includes a 1965 Tour de France win, Giro d’Italia triumphs in 1967, 1969 and 1973, and the 1968 Vuelta. He also captured Paris‑Roubaix in 1966 and claimed the World Road Cycling Championship in 1973, underscoring his prowess across both stage races and one‑day spectacles.
6. Gino Bartali
Italian great Gino Bartali, born in 1914, dominated the pre‑ and post‑war era with two Tour de France victories (1938, 1948), each accompanied by the mountains classification win. He also seized the Giro d’Italia three times (1936, 1937, 1946), again sweeping the mountains prize on each occasion. Bartali added back‑to‑back Tour de Suisse titles (1946, 1947) to his palmarès. Renowned for his climbing ability and pioneering use of derailleur gears, his riding style was distinctive: he often stayed seated on long ascents, shifting to a smaller sprocket without standing, and occasionally free‑wheeled with his right foot lowered before resuming pedalling.
7. Sean Kelly
Ireland’s Sean Kelly, born in 1956, emerged as the premier Classics specialist of the 1980s. His achievements include a Vuelta a España win in 1988, stage victories in both the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia, and an unprecedented seven‑year streak (1982–1988) of consecutive Paris‑Nice triumphs. Kelly also claimed two Tour de Suisse titles, conquered Paris‑Roubaix, and dominated Liège‑Bastogne‑Liège, solidifying his reputation as the era’s most successful one‑day racer.
8. Jacques Anquetil
French icon Jacques Anquetil, born in 1934, became the first rider to win the Tour de France five times (1957, 1961–1964) and the inaugural cyclist to claim all three Grand Tours, adding Giro d’Italia victories in 1960 and 1964 and a Vuelta win in 1936. He also captured Liège‑Bastogne‑Liège in 1966. Anquetil’s record‑breaking feats include being the first to wear the yellow jersey from start to finish throughout an entire Tour and the first Frenchman to win the Giro.
9. Bernard Hinault
French powerhouse Bernard Hinault, born in 1954, joins an elite group of five riders to have won every Grand Tour, and he remains the sole rider to have secured each race more than once. Hinault’s consistency is legendary: in every Tour de France he entered, he finished either first or second. His Tour victories came in 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982 and 1985; he added Giro d’Italia titles in 1980, 1982 and 1985, and Vuelta triumphs in 1978 and 1983. Beyond the Grand Tours, he conquered Paris‑Roubaix (1981), Liège‑Bastogne‑Liège (1977, 1980) and the 1980 World Road Cycling Championship.
10. Eddy Merckx
Belgian titan Eddy Merckx, born in 1945, is often hailed as the greatest cyclist of all time. He amassed five Tour de France victories (1969–1972, 1974), five Giro d’Italia wins (1968, 1970, 1972–1974), and a Vuelta a España title in 1973. Merckx also dominated the Tour de Suisse, Paris‑Nice (three times), the Dauphiné Libéré, Paris‑Roubaix (three wins), Liège‑Bastogne‑Liège (five triumphs) and secured three World Road Race Championships. Like a select few—Anquetil, Gimondi, Hinault and Alberto Contador—he completed the Grand Tour Triple Crown, cementing his legendary status.