To appreciate the significance of this year’s race, it’s worth reflecting on the rich history of the Tour de France and the legendary cyclists who have claimed the coveted yellow jersey over the years.
Since its inception in 1903, the Tour de France has crowned 111 official winners from 15 different countries. France leads with 36 victories, followed by Belgium (18), Spain (12), Italy (10), and Great Britain (6). The race is famous for its gruelling multi-stage format, challenging riders across mountains, time trials, and flat sprints.
The legendary five-time champions
Only four riders have won the Tour de France five times, a mark of true cycling greatness:
• Jacques Anquetil (France): The first cyclist to win five Tours, Anquetil dominated between 1957 and 1964, including four consecutive victories from 1961 to 1964.
• Eddy Merckx (Belgium): Known as “The Cannibal,” Merckx won five Tours between 1969 and 1974, including four consecutive wins. He is the only rider to win the general classification, points classification, and King of the Mountains in the same year (1969).
• Bernard Hinault (France): Hinault secured five titles between 1978 and 1985, with victories spanning seven years, demonstrating remarkable longevity.
• Miguel Indurain (Spain): The only cyclist to win five consecutive Tours (1991-1995), Indurain’s dominance in the early 1990s remains unmatched.
Other multiple-time winners
• Chris Froome (Great Britain): Four-time winner (2013, 2015-2017), Froome was the last rider to challenge the record of five wins, though he is not competing in the 2025 edition.
• Tadej Pogacar (Slovenia): The current star, Pogacar has already won three Tours (2020, 2021, 2024) and is widely tipped to contend for more titles.
• Louison Bobet (France): The first to win three consecutive Tours (1953-1955).
• Greg LeMond (USA): Three-time winner (1986, 1989, 1990), LeMond was the first non-European to win the Tour.
• Philippe Thys (Belgium): Early star with three titles (1913, 1914, 1920).
Youngest and oldest winners
• Youngest winner: Henri Cornet won the 1904 Tour just shy of his 20th birthday, making him the youngest ever winner.
• Oldest winner: Firmin Lambot won at 36 years and 130 days in 1922, while in modern times, Cadel Evans won in 2011 at 34 years and 160 days.
Complete list of Tour de France winners (1903–2024)
Below is a year-by-year list of Tour de France champions from the race’s first edition to the most recent:
1903 - Maurice Garin (France)
1904 - Henri Cornet (France)
1905 - Louis Trousselier (France)
1906 - René Pottier (France)
1907 - Lucien Petit-Breton (France)
1908 - Lucien Petit-Breton (France)
1909 - François Faber (Luxembourg)
1910 - Octave Lapize (France)
1911 - Gustave Garrigou (France)
1912 - Odile Defraye (Belgium)
1913 - Philippe Thys (Belgium)
1914 - Philippe Thys (Belgium)
1919 - Firmin Lambot (Belgium)
1920 - Philippe Thys (Belgium)
1921 - Léon Scieur (Belgium)
1922 - Firmin Lambot (Belgium)
1923 - Henri Pélissier (France)
1924 - Ottavio Bottecchia (Italy)
1925 - Ottavio Bottecchia (Italy)
1926 - Lucien Buysse (Belgium)
1927 - Nicolas Frantz (Luxembourg)
1928 - Nicolas Frantz (Luxembourg)
1929 - Maurice De Waele (Belgium)
1930 - André Leducq (France)
1931 - Antonin Magne (France)
1932 - André Leducq (France)
1933 - Georges Speicher (France)
1934 - Antonin Magne (France)
1935 - Romain Maes (Belgium)
1936 - Sylvère Maes (Belgium)
1937 - Roger Lapébie (France)
1938 - Gino Bartali (Italy)
1939 - Sylvère Maes (Belgium)
1947 - Jean Robic (France)
1948 - Gino Bartali (Italy)
1949 - Fausto Coppi (Italy)
1950 - Ferdinand Kübler (Switzerland)
1951 - Hugo Koblet (Switzerland)
1952 - Fausto Coppi (Italy)
1953 - Louison Bobet (France)
1954 - Louison Bobet (France)
1955 - Louison Bobet (France)
1956 - Roger Walkowiak (France)
1957 - Jacques Anquetil (France)
1958 - Charly Gaul (Luxembourg)
1959 - Federico Bahamontes (Spain)
1960 - Gastone Nencini (Italy)
1961 - Jacques Anquetil (France)
1962 - Jacques Anquetil (France)
1963 - Jacques Anquetil (France)
1964 - Jacques Anquetil (France)
1965 - Felice Gimondi (Italy)
1966 - Lucien Aimar (France)
1967 - Roger Pingeon (France)
1968 - Jan Janssen (Netherlands)
1969 - Eddy Merckx (Belgium)
1970 - Eddy Merckx (Belgium)
1971 - Eddy Merckx (Belgium)
1972 - Eddy Merckx (Belgium)
1973 - Luis Ocaña (Spain)
1974 - Eddy Merckx (Belgium)
1975 - Bernard Thévenet (France)
1976 - Lucien Van Impe (Belgium)
1977 - Bernard Thévenet (France)
1978 - Bernard Hinault (France)
1979 - Bernard Hinault (France)
1980 - Joop Zoetemelk (Netherlands)
1981 - Bernard Hinault (France)
1982 - Bernard Hinault (France)
1983 - Laurent Fignon (France)
1984 - Laurent Fignon (France)
1985 - Bernard Hinault (France)
1986 - Greg LeMond (USA)
1987 - Stephen Roche (Ireland)
1988 - Pedro Delgado (Spain)
1989 - Greg LeMond (USA)
1990 - Greg LeMond (USA)
1991 - Miguel Indurain (Spain)
1992 - Miguel Indurain (Spain)
1993 - Miguel Indurain (Spain)
1994 - Miguel Indurain (Spain)
1995 - Miguel Indurain (Spain)
1996 - Bjarne Riis (Denmark)
1997 - Jan Ullrich (Germany)
1998 - Marco Pantani (Italy)
1999 - Lance Armstrong * (USA)
2000 - Lance Armstrong * (USA)
2001 - Lance Armstrong * (USA)
2002 - Lance Armstrong * (USA)
2003 - Lance Armstrong * (USA)
2004 - Lance Armstrong * (USA)
2005 - Lance Armstrong * (USA)
2006 - Óscar Pereiro (Spain)
2007 - Alberto Contador (Spain)
2008 - Carlos Sastre (Spain)
2009 - Alberto Contador (Spain)
2010 - Andy Schleck * (Luxembourg)
2011 - Cadel Evans (Australia)
2012 - Bradley Wiggins (Great Britain)
2013 - Chris Froome (Great Britain)
2014 - Vincenzo Nibali (Italy)
2015 - Chris Froome (Great Britain)
2016 - Chris Froome (Great Britain)
2017 - Chris Froome (Great Britain)
2018 - Geraint Thomas (Great Britain)
2019 - Egan Bernal (Colombia)
2020 - Tadej Pogačar (Slovenia)
2021 - Tadej Pogačar (Slovenia)
2022 - Jonas Vingegaard (Denmark)
2023 - Jonas Vingegaard (Denmark)
2024 - Tadej Pogačar (Slovenia)
*Note: Lance Armstrong’s seven titles were stripped due to doping violations.
What to expect in 2025
The 2025 Tour de France promises thrilling competition as established stars and emerging talents battle across mountainous terrain, time trials, and flat sprints.
With Tadej Pogacar out to defend his title and a strong field of contenders, cycling enthusiasts can expect a dramatic and unpredictable race.
Fans across the globe will witness new chapters added to this illustrious history, with riders aiming to join the ranks of cycling’s greatest champions.