List of Tour de France Winners

List Of Tour De France Winners

The Tour de France is a cycling stage race held since 1903 over a current period of three weeks, although it was not staged from 1914 to 1918 and from 1940 to 1946, because of the First World War and Second World War respectively.

The first winner was Frenchman Maurice Garin. Four of his fellow countrymen won the race during the next six years, before François Faber, from France although with Luxembourg nationality, became the first winner from outside France in 1909. Frenchman Jacques Anquetil became the first person to win five tours, including four consecutive races from 1961 to 1964. Belgian cyclist Eddy Merckx in 1974 and Frenchman Bernard Hinault in 1985 also completed five victories. In 1986, Hinault was denied a sixth victory by American Greg LeMond, who became the first winner from outside Europe. Three years later, LeMond recorded the narrowest margin of victory, when he beat Laurent Fignon by eight seconds. Spaniard Miguel Indurain became the first winner of five consecutive tours from 1991 to 1995.

French cyclists have been the most successful in the event, having won 36 of the 94 tours, although their last champion was Bernard Hinault in 1985. They are followed by Belgian riders, who have won 18, including seven consecutive titles from 1912 to 1922. Cyclists from Spain have won thirteen events. In total, cyclists from 13 countries have won the Tour de France.

During the Tour's history, its organisers have launched a series of other jerseys. In 1933, the race's best climbers were rewarded with the King of the Mountains competition, but it was not until 1975 that the leading rider in the classification wore the distinctive polka dot jersey. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the race in 1953, the green jersey competition was started. It rewarded the consistent finishers in individual stages by awarding points depending on the place in the stage. In 1975, the Tour organisers launched an award for the leading young cyclist, awarding a white jersey to the leading cyclist under 26 years of age in the general classification. Eddy Merckx in 1969 is the only rider to win the King of the Mountains, the points and the overall title in the same year.