Top 20 Most Famous Cyclists of All Time 

Top 20 Most Famous Cyclists of All Time 

 I’m constantly in awe of the talent and willpower demonstrated in competitive cycling. It is amazing how a few ambitious individuals can achieve enduring fame through sheer talent and determination.

I’m excited to spotlight the stories of 20 superhumans who pushed boundaries and courted glory through extraordinary cycling feats. Though their names evoke awe, there are captivating details still undiscovered about these icons who fulfilled outsized dreams through endurance and strength.

We will explore their relentless quests to go faster, stronger, and farther. This glimpse unmasks overlooked perspectives on complex figures united by their astonishing pursuits.

Let’s rediscover the timeless allure of fame and the thrill of competition through the iconic careers of the Top 20 Most Famous Cyclists of All Time. 

1. Eddy Merckx

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Belgian cyclist Eddy Merckx is widely considered the greatest professional road and track racer in cycling history.

Nicknamed “The Cannibal” for his ruthless competitiveness, the Belgian amassed 525 victories over his 18-year career, including a record 11 Grand Tour wins and multiple victories in all of cycling’s biggest races.

He was an exceptionally versatile rider, excelling in stage races, one-day classics, time trials, and sprints. Merckx turned professional in 1965 and soon won his first Grand Tour at the 1967 Giro d’Italia. From 1970-1974, he achieved the rare Tour de France-Giro d’Italia double four times.

In 1972, he broke the prestigious hour record by nearly 800 meters. Since retiring in 1978, Merckx has remained involved in cycling through his bicycle brand, coaching, and race organizing. His unparalleled palmarès cemented his legacy as the undisputed greatest ever.

2. Mark Cavendish

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Mark Cavendish is considered one of the greatest road sprinters in cycling history. As a track cyclist, he won gold medals in the Madison and scratch race at the World Championships and Commonwealth Games.

On the road, Cavendish turned professional in 2005 and quickly became a prolific winner, amassing 34 Tour de France stage victories to tie the record.

He has won over 50 career Grand Tour stages in total. Cavendish won the road race at the 2011 World Championships, becoming only the second British man to do so. He has captured the points classification in all three Grand Tours.

In 2012, Cavendish became the first to win four consecutive final stages on the Champs-Élysées at the Tour de France. After illness and injury hampered his 2018-2020 seasons, Cavendish made an astonishing comeback at the 2021 Tour, equaling Merckx’s stage win record and claiming a second green jersey.

His supreme sprinting talent has made him one of the most successful road cyclists ever.

3. Bernard Hinault

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Bernard Hinault is widely regarded as one of the greatest cyclists ever, with 147 career victories including a record-tying five Tour de France titles.

Nicknamed “The Badger” for his aggressive riding style, the Frenchman dominated cycling in the late 1970s and early 1980s. After turning professional in 1975, Hinault broke through with victories at Liège-Bastogne-Liège and the Dauphiné in 1977.

He went on to win 10 out of 13 Grand Tours he entered, including the Tour-Giro double in 1982 and 1985. Though knee problems forced him to abandon the 1980 and 1983 Tours while leading, he always returned to win again.

Hinault engaged in a memorable rivalry with teammate Greg LeMond at the 1986 Tour before retiring that year.

As the last Frenchman to win the Tour, in 1985, Hinault left an indelible mark on cycling through his supreme versatility across all terrains and races. His tenacity and authority made him a true patron of the peloton.

4. Lance Armstrong

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Lance Armstrong was an American professional cyclist who won a record seven consecutive Tour de France titles from 1999-2005 but was later stripped of those titles for doping.

As a young athlete, Armstrong was a national sprint triathlon champion before turning professional with the Motorola cycling team in 1992. After being diagnosed with metastatic cancer in 1996, he made an astonishing recovery and founded the Livestrong cancer charity.

Returning to cycling, Armstrong won the Tour de France each year from 1999-2005 with the US Postal team before initially retiring. However, a 2012 USADA investigation concluded Armstrong had used performance-enhancing drugs throughout his career.

Though maintaining his innocence, he accepted a lifetime ban from cycling. In 2013, Armstrong publicly admitted to doping during an interview with Oprah Winfrey.

Once renowned for his Tour de France dominance, Armstrong’s reputation suffered an ignominious downfall when details of his pervasive doping emerged, rendering his achievements illegitimate.

5. Chris Froome

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Chris Froome is a British professional cyclist born in Kenya who has won seven Grand Tours, including four Tour de France titles.

After turning professional in 2007, Froome had his breakthrough at the 2011 Vuelta a Espana, finishing second overall. Riding as a super domestique for Bradley Wiggins, Froome finished runner-up at the 2012 Tour de France.

He went on to win his first Tour in 2013, followed by two more consecutive victories in 2015 and 2016. In 2018, Froome made history as the first rider in decades to hold all three Grand Tour titles at once after capturing the Giro d’Italia.

However, a devastating crash in 2019 severely injured Froome and he has struggled to regain his prior form since.

Now nearing the end of his career, Froome remains the most successful active general classification rider, cementing his legacy as one of cycling’s greatest Grand Tour champions despite his comeback falling short of expectations after the life-altering accident.

6. Marianne Vos

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Marianne Vos is a Dutch cycling phenomenon who has dominated across road, track, and cyclo-cross. After becoming World Champion in cyclo-cross and road racing as a teenager, Vos added track world titles in the points and scratch races.

Her Olympic triumphs include gold in the 2008 points race and the 2012 road race. On the road, Vos is a 3-time World Champion (2006, 2012, 2013) and has won numerous prestigious one-day classics and stage races.

In cyclo-cross, she has a record of 8 world titles. With 24 World Cup wins, Vos has been the top-ranked rider 5 times on the road and once in cyclo-cross.

A tireless advocate for improving women’s cycling, Vos has drawn comparisons to the great Eddy Merckx for her supreme versatility and continuous dominance across all disciplines.

Still going strong after 15 years, Vos’s endless list of accolades cements her status as one of the finest cyclists of her generation.

7. Mathieu Van Der Poel

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Dutch phenom Mathieu van der Poel has conquered cycling across cyclo-cross, mountain biking, and road racing. He won the junior world titles in road and cyclo-cross before turning professional in 2015.

On the dirt, van der Poel has amassed an astonishing 6 elite cyclo-cross world championships already. His road palmarès include wins at Strade Bianche, Tour of Flanders, Amstel Gold, and all three Monuments in 2023 alone.

After taking the Dutch national title on the road in 2018, van der Poel won a Tour de France stage and wore the yellow jersey in 2021. He has triumphed in weeklong stage races as well.

Still only age 28 in 2023, van der Poel’s versatility and continuous dominance across disciplines draw comparisons to legends like Merckx.

His epic rivalry with Wout van Aert has enthralled cycling fans worldwide. Van der Poel is undoubtedly one of the most talented bike handlers and exciting racers of his generation.

8. Chris Hoy

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Sir Chris Hoy of Scotland is one of the most accomplished track cyclists ever, with 11 world titles and 6 Olympic gold medals. Between 2012 and 2021, he was the most decorated British Olympian and track cyclist in history before being surpassed by rival Sir Jason Kenny.

At the 2008 Beijing Games, Hoy’s 3 golds made him Scotland’s most successful Olympian ever. He remains the only cyclist to win gold in the team sprint, match sprint, keirin, and kilo.

With 2 more golds in 2012, Hoy’s 6 career Olympic titles are the second most by a British athlete behind Kenny. Hoy has won the most Olympic cycling events (4) of any rider.

With 17 world championships across disciplines, he is the most successful global track cyclist of all time. Hoy’s unparalleled Olympic record and longevity at the top cemented his legacy as a cycling legend.

9. Gino Bartali

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Gino Bartali was a champion Italian road cyclist who won the Giro d’Italia in 1936 and 1937 and the Tour de France in 1938 before World War II.

After the war, Bartali remarkably won both the Giro and Tour again in 1946 and 1948, setting the record for the longest gap between Tour de France victories. Nicknamed “Gino the Pious” and “Ginettaccio” for his intense focus, Bartali was the top pre-war Italian rider.

In 2013, he was posthumously honored as “Righteous Among the Nations” by Yad Vashem for his efforts to aid Jews during WWII by smuggling false identity documents concealed in his bicycle.

Bartali was defined by both his dominance in cycling’s greatest stage races as well as his heroic integrity off the bike in risking his life to save others during a dark period in history.

10. Marco Pantani

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Marco Pantani was an Italian cycling icon regarded as one of the greatest climbing specialists ever. With his shaved head and flamboyant “Pirata” persona, the diminutive Pantani possessed an explosive climbing style that saw him record the fastest ascents of Mont Ventoux and Alpe d’Huez.

He was the last rider to achieve the rare Tour de France-Giro d’Italia double in 1998. Other champions like Armstrong praised his unmatched abilities in the mountains.

Pantani’s attacking, out-of-the-saddle style contrasted with more methodical time trailers. His early death by cocaine overdose in 2004 at just 34 further cemented his mythic legacy in cycling.

Though his career was short, Pantani’s legendary climbing exploits and charismatic personality made him one of the most beloved Italian riders. He embodied the swashbuckling spirit of the ultimate mountain pirate.

11. Beryl Burton

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Beryl Burton was a legendary English cyclist who dominated women’s racing for decades. She won over 90 domestic titles across track and road disciplines and set numerous national records.

In 1967, Burton set a benchmark 12-hour time trial world record that exceeded the men’s record for two years. She went on to claim seven world champion titles on the bike.

Burton’s continuous domestic and world dominance in both time trialing and road racing was unparalleled in her era. She smashed barriers for women’s cycling and stands as one of Britain’s greatest-ever cyclists regardless of gender.

12. Jacques Anquetil

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Jacques Anquetil was a legendary French road cyclist who was the first to win the Tour de France five times between 1957 and 1964.

Nicknamed “Monsieur Chrono” for his time trialing prowess, Anquetil boldly stated he would take the yellow jersey on day one and wear it throughout the 1961 Tour, even with past champions in the field.

He delivered on that promise. Anquetil’s unmatched abilities against the clock allowed him to ride solo to victories in major stage races. His eight career Grand Tour victories set a record upon retirement, later surpassed only by Merckx and Hinault.

Anquetil revolutionized stage racing with his meticulous, calculating style that maximized gains in time trials. His record five Tours and panache cemented his legacy as one of cycling’s first true Grand Tour champions.

13. Fausto Coppi

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Fausto Coppi was an Italian cycling legend who dominated the sport after World War II, earning the nickname “Il Campionissimo” or Champion of Champions. The supremely versatile Coppi excelled at climbing, time trials, and sprinting.

He won a remarkable five Giro d’Italia titles along with two Tour de France victories and the 1953 World Championships. Coppi also captured Milan-San Remo three times, Paris-Roubaix, La Fleche Wallonne, and five Giro di Lombardia classics.

In 1942, he set a new hour record that stood for 14 years. With his palmarès spanning from one-day monuments to stage races to time trials, Coppi was the consummate all-rounder.

His unmatched results coupled with panache cemented his legacy as one of cycling’s first true superstars in the post-WWII era.

14. Roger De Vlaeminck

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Roger De Vlaeminck is a Belgian cycling great known as “The Gypsy” for his upbringing in a traveling family. He was considered the most talented classics rider of his generation.

De Vlaeminck earned the nickname “Mr. Paris-Roubaix” for his exploits at the famed cobbled race, winning four times. But his success across other Monuments like Liège–Bastogne–Liège, Giro di Lombardia, and Milan-San Remo cemented his legacy as a classics specialist.

In all, De Vlaeminck captured 11 Monuments victories – a record that stood for decades. His aggressive and opportunistic racing style suited the unpredictability of one-day classics.

With his string of Monument wins coupled with his swashbuckling attacks, De Vlaeminck was one of cycling’s greatest-ever cobblestone stars.

15. Sean Kelly

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Sean Kelly is an Irish cycling star and one of the most successful road racers of the 1980s. From 1977-1994, Kelly amassed 193 professional wins including 9 Monument classics and a record 7 consecutive Paris-Nice titles.

His 1988 Vuelta a Espana victory was the lone Grand Tour of his career. Kelly also captured multiple Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Milan-San Remo, Paris-Roubaix, and Giro di Lombardia wins to confirm his classics pedigree.

He twice earned bronze at the World Championships. Kelly was ranked world #1 for a record five straight years starting in 1984 when he notched 33 victories.

With his consistency and dominance in both one-day and stage races, Kelly was one of the greatest Classics specialists and truly versatile riders of his era.

16. Francesco Moser

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Italian cycling legend Francesco “Lo sceriffo” “The Sheriff” Moser was a dominant professional racer from 1973 to the early 1980s.

Though not a skilled climber due to his large build, Moser won stages of the Tour de France and the World Championships, along with six podium finishes at the Giro d’Italia including victory in 1984.

With over 270 career road race wins, Moser sits behind only Eddy Merckx and Rik Van Looy in the record books. He was also a successful track cyclist, competing in up to six six-day races every winter and amassing 15 victories over his prolific career.

Moser came from an athletic family – nephew Moreno Moser became a professional cyclist, while Francesco’s son Ignazio found success at junior and amateur levels before retiring at 22.

17. Felice Gimondi

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Italian legend from Sedrina Felice “The Phoenix” Gimondi enjoyed a storied professional cycling career from 1965 to 1979.

In just his third year as a pro, he won the 1968 Vuelta a Espana to become only the second rider after Jacques Anquetil to capture all three Grand Tours – the Tour de France (1965), Giro d’Italia (1967, 1969, 1976), and Vuelta.

One of just seven cyclists to complete this remarkable Grand Tour feat, Gimondi also won three of the five major one-day Monuments, taking two Giro di Lombardia victories and a dozen other grand tour podium finishes.

He accomplished all of this despite competing in the same era as the dominant Eddy Merckx, solidifying his legacy as one of Italy’s all-time great riders.

18. Alejandro Valverde

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Legendary Spanish cyclist Alejandro Valverde enjoyed a prolific 20-year professional road racing career from 2002-2022, racking up an astounding 133 victories.

His biggest wins came at the 2009 Vuelta a España, 2008 and 2009 Critérium du Dauphiné, and four Liège-Bastogne-Liège classics.

A diverse talent excelling as a climber, sprinter, and time trialist, Valverde also won multiple stages of the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia along with a 2018 World Championship road race gold.

His consistency was unmatched – he completed 27 Grand Tours and finished in the top 10 of the standings 20 times in an exceptionally long career.

Valverde holds the record for World Championship medals before finally claiming the elusive rainbow jersey, cementing his legacy as one of the most successful cyclists of all time. He now competes on Movistar’s gravel cycling squad.

19.  Zabel Erik

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Considered one of Germany’s greatest-ever cyclists, sprinter Erik Zabel enjoyed a prolific career from 1993-2008, racing primarily for Team Telekom.

With over 150 professional victories including a record nine Grand Tour points classifications, Zabel was a formidable road racer and track cyclist. He won the prestigious Milan-San Remo Monument four times, along with six consecutive Tour de France green jerseys from 1996-2001.

One of the few modern riders to compete year-round, Zabel also found success in winter six-day track events. After retirement, he worked as a sprint coach for HTC-Highroad and Team Katusha.

However, Zabel’s legacy was tainted after he admitted to doping from 1996 to 2004 during cycling’s darkest era. His son, Rick Zabel, has followed in his footsteps as a professional road cyclist.

20. Binda Alfredo

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Along with his multiple Giro titles, Binda also won two Monument Classics at Milan-San Remo and dominated the Tour of Lombardy with four victories. On the world stage, he earned three rainbow jerseys as the road race World Champion.

After his illustrious racing career, Binda went on to manage the Italian National cycling team. Under his leadership, iconic riders like Fausto Coppi, Gino Bartali, and Gastone Nencini would go on to win the Tour de France, further cementing Binda’s legacy in the sport making him one of the most famous athletes ever.

With his extensive palmares across the Classics, Grand Tours, and Worlds, Alfredo Binda stands as one of Italy’s most accomplished and influential cyclists.

It is remarkable how a few determined individuals can gain enduring fame through extraordinary feats in cycling.

The facts presented shed new light on the talent and willpower that propelled these 20 icons to push boundaries and achieve glory on two wheels. From dramatic quests to controversial careers, the surprising details reveal little-known trivia about figures united by their astonishing pursuits in competitive cycling’s upper echelon.

For any fan of sports history, these insights exceed expectations by spotlighting the timeless allure of fame through the inspiring journeys of cycling’s most legendary names.