Cycling is a sport in which athletes dedicate a large part of their lives to intense training in order to achieve excellence. These cyclists therefore deserve our attention, and that’s why we’ve created yet another piece of content full of knowledge for you.
In this list, therefore, you’ll discover who the 20 best male cyclists of all time are! From the legendary Eddy Merckx and Fausto Coppi, to more current icons such as Chris Froome and Alberto Contador, these cyclists are great champions who should never be forgotten.
In addition to their exceptional skills on two wheels, the best cyclists of all time are also complex characters, with life stories that often reflect resilience, dedication and overcoming obstacles.
Now it’s time to find out who the 20 best male cyclists of all time are and find out a little more about them.
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The 20 best male cyclists of all time: complete list
Here are the names of the top 20 male cyclists of all time selected for the ranking.
- Eddy Merckx
- Bernard Hinault
- Fausto Coppi
- Jacques Anquetil
- Miguel Indurain
- Felice Gimondi
- Gino Bartali
- Laurent Fignon
- Sean Kelly
- Marco Pantani
- Alberto Contador
- Tom Simpson
- Rui Costa
- Greg LeMond
- Bradley Wiggins
- Bernard Thévenet
- Chris Froome
- Fabian Cancellara
- Luis Ocana
- Joop Zoetemelk
20 best Brazilian male cyclists of all time: find out more about them
Now it’s time to find out more about the 20 best male cyclists of all time! See their titles, teams, curiosities and life story!
1. Eddy Merckx
- Titles: 5-time winner of the Tour de France, 5-time winner of the Giro d’Italia, 1-time winner of the Vuelta a España.
- Team: Molteni, Faema, Fiat, Faemino, Molteni-Arcore, Peugeot-BP-Michelin.
- Fun facts: Known as “The Cannibal” due to his insatiable hunger for victory.
- Life story: Born in 1945 in Belgium, Merckx is widely regarded as one of the greatest cyclists of all time, dominating Grand Tours races during the 1960s and early 1970s.
2. Bernard Hinault
- Titles: 5 times winner of the Tour de France, 3 times winner of the Giro d’Italia, 2 times winner of the Vuelta a España.
- Team: Renault-Gitane, La Vie Claire, Renault-Elf, La Redoute, Panasonic, Hinault-SEM-France Loire.
- Fun facts: Known as “The Badger” for his fierce determination.
- Life story: Hinault, born in 1954 in France, was one of the most dominant cyclists of the 1980s, competing successfully in a variety of terrains and weather conditions.
3. Fausto Coppi
- Titles: 2-time winner of the Tour de France, 5-time winner of the Giro d’Italia.
- Team: Bianchi-Pirelli, Legnano, Bianchi.
- Fun facts: Nicknamed “Il Campionissimo” (The Champion of Champions).
- Life story: Born in 1919 in Italy, Coppi was a dominant figure in cycling racing in the 1940s and 1950s, famous for his victories in Grand Tours and his elegant style.
4. Jacques Anquetil
- Titles: 5 times winner of the Tour de France, 2 times winner of the Giro d’Italia.
- Team: Saint-Raphael, Helyett-Hutchinson, Gitane-Leroux, Ford, Bic, Peugeot-BP-Michelin.
- Fun facts: First cyclist to win the Tour de France five times.
- Life story: Born in France in 1934, Anquetil was one of the first cyclists to dominate both time trial and mountain races.
5. Miguel Indurain
- Titles: 5 times winner of the Tour de France, 2 times winner of the Giro d’Italia.
- Team: Banesto, Reynolds, Banesto-Aspar, Banesto.
- Fun facts: Known for his exceptional time trial skills.
- Life story: Born in 1964 in Spain, Indurain was one of the most dominant cyclists of the 1990s, especially in Grand Tours due to his skill in the mountains and time trials.
6. Felice Gimondi
- Titles: 1-time winner of the Tour de France, 3-time winner of the Giro d’Italia, 1-time winner of the Vuelta a España.
- Team: Salvarani, Salvarani-Parisiene, Salvarani, Bianchi-Faema, Bianchi, Bianchi-Campagnolo.
- Fun facts: One of the only cyclists to win all the Grand Tours.
- Life story: Born in 1942 in Italy, Gimondi was a versatile cyclist, capable of competing in both one-day and stage races.
7. Gino Bartali
- Titles: 3 times winner of the Tour de France, 2 times winner of the Giro d’Italia.
- Team: Legnano, Gloria-Bartali, Legnano, Bartali, Frejus.
- Fun facts: Recognized for his resistance activities during the Second World War.
- Life story: Born in 1914 in Italy, Bartali is remembered not only for his cycling achievements, but also for his role in the Italian resistance against the Nazis.
8. Laurent Fignon
- Titles: 2-time winner of the Tour de France, 1-time winner of the Giro d’Italia.
- Team: Renault-Elf-Gitane, Renault-Elf, Renault-Elf-Mavic, Super-U-Raleigh-Fiat, Système U.
- Fun facts: He lost the 1989 Tour de France by just 8 seconds.
- Life story: Born in 1960 in France, Fignon was one of the leading cyclists of the 1980s, known for his strong personality and aggressive racing style.
9. Sean Kelly
- Titles: Winner of the Vuelta a España, Winner of Paris-Roubaix.
- Team: Flandria, Splendor, Sem, Skil-Sem, KAS, PDM-Ultima-Concorde, PDM-Concorde, Festina-Lotus, Festina, PDM-Concorde, Fagor, PDM-Ultima, PDM-Ultima-Concorde.
- Fun facts: Known for his skill in one-day races.
- Life story: Born in 1956 in Ireland, Kelly was one of the best sprinters and classic racers of his time, winning a number of emblematic races.
10. Marco Pantani
- Titles: Winner of the Tour de France, Winner of the Giro d’Italia.
- Team: Carrera Jeans, Mercatone Uno-Bianchi.
- Fun facts: He won the Tour de France and the Giro d’Italia in the same year (1998).
- Life story: Born in 1970 in Italy, Pantani was one of the most talented and charismatic climbers in modern cycling, but his career was marked by controversy and personal tragedy.
11. Alberto Contador
- Titles: 3 times winner of the Tour de France, 2 times winner of the Giro d’Italia, 3 times winner of the Vuelta a España.
- Team: Discovery Channel, Astana, Saxo Bank, Tinkoff-Saxo.
- Fun facts: He has won all the Grand Tours at least twice each.
- Life story: Born in 1982 in Spain, Contador is known for his aggressive and explosive attacks in the mountains.
12. Tom Simpson
- Titles: Winner of the Tour de France, World Road Champion.
- Team: Peugeot-BP-Michelin, Gitane-Campagnolo, Peugeot-BP-Englebert, Peugeot-BP-Michelin.
- Fun facts: Died during the 1967 Tour de France due to the use of stimulants.
- Life story: Born in 1937 in the UK, Simpson was one of the first British cyclists to achieve international success, winning iconic races and the world title.
13. Rui Costa
- Titles: 3x World Road Champion, 3x Abu Dhabi Tour, among others.
- Team: Lampre-Merida, UAE Team Emirates.
- Fun fact: He stands out for his skills in mountain stages and his regularity.
- Life story: Portuguese cyclist who stood out as a three-time world road champion and for his skills on mountain stages.
14. Greg LeMond
- Titles: 3-time winner of the Tour de France, 2-time winner of the World Road Championship.
- Team: Renault-Elf-Gitane, La Vie Claire, Z-Peugeot, ADR, Z-Tomasso, PDM-Concorde.
- Fun facts: He won the Tour de France in 1986, 1989 and 1990.
- Life story: Born in 1961 in the United States, LeMond was one of the most successful American cyclists in history, excelling in both Grand Tours and one-day races.
15. Bradley Wiggins
- Titles: Winner of the Tour de France, Winner of the Vuelta a España, Winner of the World Time Trial Championship.
- Team: La Française des Jeux, Cofidis, La Française des Jeux, Credit Agricole, Cofidis, Crédit Agricole, High Road, Garmin-Slipstream, Team Sky.
- Fun facts: First British winner of the Tour de France.
- Life story: Born in 1980 in the UK, Wiggins is one of the most versatile cyclists in recent history, excelling in time trials and road races.
16. Bernard Thévenet
- Titles: 2x Tour de France, 1x Critérium International, among others.
- Team: Peugeot, Gitane, Puch-Wolber, among others.
- Fun fact: Known for his victories over Eddy Merckx in the Tour de France.
- Life story: Former French cyclist, he won the Tour de France twice and became known for his victories over Eddy Merckx.
17. Chris Froome
- Titles: 4-time winner of the Tour de France, 1-time winner of the Giro d’Italia, 1-time winner of the Vuelta a España.
- Team: Barloworld, Team Sky, Israel Start-Up Nation.
- Fun facts: He won the Tour de France in 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2017.
- Life story: Born in 1985 in Kenya, Froome represents the United Kingdom in racing, and his aggressive climbing style has made him one of the most dominant figures in contemporary cycling.
18. Fabian Cancellara
- Titles: 4-time winner of the World Time Trial Championship, multiple stage winner of the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia.
- Team: Mapei, Fassa Bortolo, Team CSC, Saxo Bank, Leopard Trek, RadioShack-Nissan, Trek Factory Racing.
- Fun facts: Known as “Spartacus” for his strength and dominance in races against the clock.
- Life story: Born in 1981 in Switzerland, Cancellara is one of the greatest time trial specialists in history, having mastered this discipline throughout his career.
19. Luis Ocana
- Titles: Winner of the Tour de France, Winner of the Vuelta a España.
- Team: Bic, Bic-Campagnolo, Fagor-Mercier, Bic, Super Ser, Malvor-Bottecchia.
- Fun facts: He won the Tour de France in 1973, beating Eddy Merckx.
- Life story: Born in 1945 in Spain, Ocana was one of the most talented cyclists of the 1970s, known for his skill in the mountains and his impressive victory over Merckx in the Tour de France.
20. Joop Zoetemelk
- Titles: Winner of the Tour de France 1980, Vuelta a España 1979.
- Team: Gan, Raleigh, etc.
- Fun facts: He is the cyclist who has finished the Tour de France the most times, with 16 participations and 12 times in the top 10.
- Life story: Born in 1946 in the Netherlands, Zoetemelk is remembered for his consistency and longevity in the peloton.
The 20 best male cyclists of all time: complete list
- Eddy Merckx
- Bernard Hinault
- Fausto Coppi
- Jacques Anquetil
- Miguel Indurain
- Felice Gimondi
- Gino Bartali
- Laurent Fignon
- Sean Kelly
- Marco Pantani
- Alberto Contador
- Tom Simpson
- Rui Costa
- Greg LeMond
- Bradley Wiggins
- Bernard Thévenet
- Chris Froome
- Fabian Cancellara
- Luis Ocana
- Joop Zoetemelk
The 20 best male cyclists of all time
Meeting the best male cyclists of all time not only gives us a privileged insight into the world of cycling, but also connects us to diverse stories of determination, overcoming and excellence.
These athletes have transcended the limits of sport, inspiring fans of all ages and cultures to pursue their own dreams and challenges, on and off the road.
The stories of the 20 best male cyclists of all time are more than inspiring, helping to motivate all those who strive for greatness in their own journeys, whether personal or sporting.
Did you like getting to know the 20 best cyclists of all time? Then don’t forget to leave a comment telling us what you thought of the article and what other types of content you’d like to see here!
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