The Tour de France is the race every professional cyclist wants to be in. To make it to the Tour de France is a big achievement in itself, to win a stage is a big achievement and to win multiple stages is a massive achievement.
There is a popular saying in professional cycling that winning a Tour de France stage can define one’s career. Winning multiple stages at the Tour de France puts them above their peers.
Eddy Merckx and Mark Cavendish jointly hold the record for the most Tour de France stage wins at 34.
For 46 years between 1975 to 2020, Eddy Merckx holds the record. All of Eddy Merckx’s wins occurred within an eight-year time period.
In 2021, Mark Cavendish won four stages to equal Eddy Merckx’s record. His first win was way back in 2008 and the last win was in 2016 before making his comeback. Mark Cavendish has the chance to break Eddy Merckx’s record at the 2022 Tour de France.
Most Tour de France stage wins
Throughout history, there are 34 riders who have won 10 or more stages at the Tour de France. The currently active riders with 10 stage wins or more are Mark Cavendish and Peter Sagan (12 wins).
| Rider | Nationality | Stage wins | Last win |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Cavendish | Great Britain | 34 | 2021 |
| Eddy Merckx | Belgium | 34 | 1975 |
| Bernard Hinault | France | 28 | 1986 |
| André Leducq | France | 25 | 1938 |
| André Darrigade | France | 22 | 1964 |
| Nicolas Frantz | Luxembourg | 20 | 1929 |
| François Faber | Luxembourg | 19 | 1914 |
| Jean Alavoine | France | 17 | 1923 |
| Jacques Anquetil | France | 16 | 1964 |
| René Le Grevès | France | 16 | 1939 |
| Charles Pélissier | France | 16 | 1923 |
| Freddy Maertens | Belgium | 15 | 1981 |
| Marcel Kittel | Germany | 14 | 2017 |
| Philippe Thys | Belgium | 13 | 1924 |
| Louis Trousselier | France | 13 | 1910 |
| Gino Bartali | Italy | 12 | 1950 |
| Mario Cipollini | Italy | 12 | 1999 |
| Miguel Indurain | Spain | 12 | 1995 |
| Robbie McEwen | Australia | 12 | 2007 |
| Peter Sagan | Slovakia | 12 | 2019 |
| Erik Zabel | Germany | 12 | 2002 |
| Jean Aerts | Belgium | 11 | 1935 |
| Louison Bobet | France | 11 | 1955 |
| Raffaele Di Paco | Italy | 11 | 1935 |
| André Greipel | Germany | 11 | 2016 |
| Maurice Archambaud | France | 10 | 1939 |
| Charly Gaul | Luxembourg | 10 | 1961 |
| Walter Godefroot | Belgium | 10 | 1975 |
| Thor Hushovd | Norway | 10 | 2011 |
| Gerrie Knetemann | Netherlands | 10 | 1982 |
| Antonin Magne | France | 10 | 1938 |
| Henri Pélissier | France | 10 | 1923 |
| Jan Raas | Netherlands | 10 | 1984 |
| Joop Zoetemelk | Netherlands | 10 | 1980 |
Most Tour de France stage wins by country
French riders have the most stage wins with 711 wins, followed by Belgian (481) and Italian (271).
| Country | Wins |
|---|---|
| France | 711 |
| Belgium | 481 |
| Italy | 271 |
| Netherlands | 179 |
| Spain | 128 |
| Germany | 90 |
| Great Britain | 75 |
| Luxembourg | 70 |
| Switzerland | 61 |
| Australia | 36 |
| Colombia | 22 |
| Denmark | 21 |
| Norway | 19 |
| United States | 19 |
| Ireland | 14 |
| Slovakia | 13 |
| Portugal | 12 |
| Russia | 11 |
| Slovenia | 11 |
| Uzbekistan | 9 |
| Kazakhstan | 6 |
| Poland | 6 |
| Austria | 5 |
| Estonia | 4 |
| Ukraine | 4 |
| Czech Republic | 3 |
| Latvia | 2 |
| Mexico | 2 |
| South Africa | 2 |
| Brazil | 1 |
| Canada | 1 |
| Lithuania | 1 |
| Sweden | 1 |