Who won the Tour de France Yellow Jersey?

The Tour de France General Classification winner is the rider who finished the race in the shortest time among all participants. He is also known as the maillot jaune and is also called the overall winner.

It’s important to make this distinction as there are many competitions within the Tour de France such as Points Classification, Climber’s Classification, Young Rider Classification, and Team Classification among others.

Page contents :

Tour de France winners, 1903 to 2022

Jonas Vingegaard wins Tour de France in 2022

Jonas Vinegagaard from Team Jumbo-Visma won the 2022 Tour de France.

Tour de France winners, 1903 to 2022

Year	Winner	Nationality	Team	Total time	Stages won	Age
2022	Jonas Vingegaard	Denmark	Jumbo-Visma	79h 32′ 29″	2	25
2021	Tadej Pogačar	Slovenia	UAE Team Emirates	82h 56′ 36″	3	22
2020	Tadej Pogačar	Slovenia	UAE Team Emirates	87h 20′ 13″	3	21
2019	Egan Bernal	Colombia	Team Ineos	82h 57′ 00″	0	22
2018	Geraint Thomas	Great Britain	Team Sky	83h 17′ 13″	2	32
2017	Chris Froome	Great Britain	Team Sky	86h 20′ 55″	0	32
2016	Chris Froome	Great Britain	Team Sky	89h 04′ 48″	2	31
2015	Chris Froome	Great Britain	Team Sky	84h 46′ 14″	1	30
2014	Vincenzo Nibali	Italy	Astana	89h 59′ 06″	4	29
2013	Chris Froome	Great Britain	Team Sky	83h 56′ 20″	3	28
2012	Bradley Wiggins	Great Britain	Team Sky	87h 34′ 47″	2	32
2011	Cadel Evans	Australia	BMC Racing Team	86h 12′ 22″	1	34
2010	Andy Schleck	Luxembourg	Team Saxo Bank	91h 59′ 27″	2	25
2009	Alberto Contador	Spain	Astana	85h 48′ 35″	2	26
2008	Carlos Sastre	Spain	Team CSC	87h 52′ 52″	1	33
2007	Alberto Contador	Spain	Discovery Channel	91h 00′ 26″	1	24
2006	Óscar Pereiro	Spain	Caisse d’Epargne-Illes Balears	89h 40′ 27″	0	30
2005	Lance Armstrong	United States	—	86h 15′ 02″	—	34
2004	Lance Armstrong	United States	—	83h 36′ 02″	—	33
2003	Lance Armstrong	United States	—	83h 41′ 12″	—	32
2002	Lance Armstrong	United States	—	82h 05′ 12″	—	31
2001	Lance Armstrong	United States	—	86h 17′ 28″	—	30
2000	Lance Armstrong	United States	—	92h 33′ 08″	—	29
1999	Lance Armstrong	United States	—	91h 32′ 16″	—	28
1998	Marco Pantani	Italy	Mercatone Uno-Bianchi	92h 49′ 46″	2	28
1997	Jan Ullrich	Germany	Team Telekom	100h 30′ 35″	2	24
1996	Bjarne Riis	Denmark	Team Telekom	95h 57′ 16″	2	32
1995	Miguel Indurain	Spain	Banesto	92h 44′ 59″	2	31
1994	Miguel Indurain	Spain	Banesto	103h 38′ 38″	1	30
1993	Miguel Indurain	Spain	Banesto	95h 57′ 09″	2	29
1992	Miguel Indurain	Spain	Banesto	100h 49′ 30″	3	28
1991	Miguel Indurain	Spain	Banesto	101h 01′ 20″	2	27
1990	Greg LeMond	United States	Z-Tomasso	90h 43′ 20″	0	29
1989	Greg LeMond	United States	AD Renting-W-Cup-Bottecchia	87h 38′ 35″	3	28
1988	Pedro Delgado	Spain	Reynolds	84h 27′ 53″	1	28
1987	Stephen Roche	Ireland	Carrera Jeans-Vagabond	115h 27′ 42″	1	28
1986	Greg LeMond	United States	La Vie Claire	110h 35′ 19″	1	25
1985	Bernard Hinault	France	La Vie Claire	113h 24′ 23″	2	31
1984	Laurent Fignon	France	Renault-Elf	112h 03′ 40″	5	24
1983	Laurent Fignon	France	Renault-Elf	105h 07′ 52″	1	23
1982	Bernard Hinault	France	Renault-Elf-Gitane	92h 08′ 46″	4	28
1981	Bernard Hinault	France	Renault-Elf-Gitane	96h 19′ 38″	5	27
1980	Joop Zoetemelk	Netherlands	TI-Raleigh-Creda	109h 19′ 14″	2	34
1979	Bernard Hinault	France	Renault-Gitane	103h 06′ 50″	7	25
1978	Bernard Hinault	France	Renault-Gitane-Campagnolo	108h 18′ 00″	3	24
1977	Bernard Thévenet	France	Peugeot-Esso-Michelin	115h 38′ 30″	1	29
1976	Lucien Van Impe	Belgium	Gitane-Campagnolo	116h 22′ 23″	1	30
1975	Bernard Thévenet	France	Peugeot-BP-Michelin	114h 35′ 31″	2	27
1974	Eddy Merckx	Belgium	Molteni	116h 16′ 58″	8	29
1973	Luis Ocaña	Spain	Bic	122h 25′ 34″	6	28
1972	Eddy Merckx	Belgium	Molteni	108h 17′ 18″	6	27
1971	Eddy Merckx	Belgium	Molteni	96h 45′ 14″	4	26
1970	Eddy Merckx	Belgium	Faemino-Faema	119h 31′ 49″	8	25
1969	Eddy Merckx	Belgium	Faema	116h 16′ 02″	6	24
1968	Jan Janssen	Netherlands	Pelforth-Sauvage-Lejeune	133h 49′ 42″	2	28
1967	Roger Pingeon	France	Peugeot-BP-Michelin	136h 53′ 50″	1	27
1966	Lucien Aimar	France	Ford France-Hutchinson	117h 34′ 21″	0	25
1965	Felice Gimondi	Italy	Salvarani	116h 42′ 06″	3	23
1964	Jacques Anquetil	France	Saint-Raphaël-Gitane-Dunlop	127h 09′ 44″	4	30
1963	Jacques Anquetil	France	Saint-Raphaël-Gitane-R. Geminiani	113h 30′ 05″	4	29
1962	Jacques Anquetil	France	Saint-Raphaël-Helyett-Hutchinson	114h 31′ 54″	2	28
1961	Jacques Anquetil	France	France	122h 01′ 33″	2	27
1960	Gastone Nencini	Italy	Italy	112h 08′ 42″	0	30
1959	Federico Bahamontes	Spain	Spain	123h 46′ 45″	1	31
1958	Charly Gaul	Luxembourg	Luxembourg	116h 59′ 05″	4	26
1957	Jacques Anquetil	France	France	135h 44′ 42″	4	23
1956	Roger Walkowiak	France	France	124h 01′ 16″	0	29
1955	Louison Bobet	France	France	130h 29′ 26″	2	30
1954	Louison Bobet	France	France	140h 06′ 05″	3	29
1953	Louison Bobet	France	France	129h 23′ 25″	2	28
1952	Fausto Coppi	Italy	Italy	151h 57′ 20″	5	33
1951	Hugo Koblet	Switzerland	Switzerland	142h 20′ 14″	5	26
1950	Ferdinand Kübler	Switzerland	Switzerland	145h 36′ 56″	3	31
1949	Fausto Coppi	Italy	Italy	149h 40′ 49″	3	30
1948	Gino Bartali	Italy	Italy	147h 10′ 36″	7	34
1947	Jean Robic	France	France	148h 11′ 25″	3	26
1939	Sylvère Maes	Belgium	Belgium	132h 03′ 17″	2	30
1938	Gino Bartali	Italy	Italy	148h 29′ 12″	2	24
1937	Roger Lapébie	France	France	138h 58′ 31″	3	26
1936	Sylvère Maes	Belgium	Belgium	142h 47′ 32″	4	27
1935	Romain Maes	Belgium	Belgium	141h 23′ 00″	3	22
1934	Antonin Magne	France	France	147h 13′ 58″	3	30
1933	Georges Speicher	France	France	147h 51′ 37″	3	26
1932	André Leducq	France	France	154h 11′ 49″	6	28
1931	Antonin Magne	France	France	177h 10′ 03″	1	27
1930	André Leducq	France	Alcyon-Dunlop	172h 12′ 16″	2	26
1929	Maurice De Waele	Belgium	Alcyon-Dunlop	186h 39′ 15″	1	33
1928	Nicolas Frantz	Luxembourg	Alcyon-Dunlop	192h 48′ 58″	5	29
1927	Nicolas Frantz	Luxembourg	Alcyon-Dunlop	198h 16′ 42″	3	28
1926	Lucien Buysse	Belgium	Automoto-Hutchinson	238h 44′ 25″	2	34
1925	Ottavio Bottecchia	Italy	Automoto-Hutchinson	219h 10′ 18″	4	31
1924	Ottavio Bottecchia	Italy	Automoto	226h 18′ 21″	4	30
1923	Henri Pélissier	France	Automoto-Hutchinson	222h 15′ 30″	3	33
1922	Firmin Lambot	Belgium	Peugeot-Wolber	222h 08′ 06″	0	36
1921	Léon Scieur	Belgium	La Sportive	221h 50′ 26″	2	33
1920	Philippe Thys	Belgium	La Sportive	228h 36′ 13″	4	30
1919	Firmin Lambot	Belgium	La Sportive	231h 07′ 15″	1	33
1914	Philippe Thys	Belgium	Peugeot-Wolber	200h 28′ 48″	1	23
1913	Philippe Thys	Belgium	Peugeot-Wolber	197h 54′ 00″	1	23
1912	Odile Defraye	Belgium	Alcyon-Dunlop	49 points	3	24
1911	Gustave Garrigou	France	Alcyon-Dunlop	43 points	2	27
1910	Octave Lapize	France	Alcyon-Dunlop	63 points	4	21
1909	François Faber	Luxembourg	Alcyon-Dunlop	37 points	6	22
1908	Lucien Petit-Breton	France	Peugeot-Wolber	36 points	5	25
1907	Lucien Petit-Breton	France	Peugeot-Wolber	47 points	2	24
1906	René Pottier	France	Peugeot-Wolber	31 points	5	27
1905	Louis Trousselier	France	Peugeot-Wolber	35 points	5	24
1904	Henri Cornet	France	Conte	96h 05′ 55″	1	20
1903	Maurice Garin	France	La Française	94h 33′ 14″	3	32

Tour de France winners, 1903 to 2022

Riders with the most Tour de France wins

From the 1950s onwards, each decade is often defined by a dominant cyclist who won the General Classification multiple times. They dominated for a period ranging from five to seven years during their peak.

The average General Classification winner age is 28.

There are only five riders who have won the Tour de France General Classification five or more times.

Louison Bobet won in 1953, 1954, and 1955.
Jacques Anquetil dominated the early to mid-60s, winning in 1957, 1961, 1962, 1963, and 1964.
Eddy Merckx, who is often referred to as the best cyclist of all time, dominated the late 60s to mid-70s, winning in 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, and 1974.
Bernard Hinault (1978, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1985) and Laurent Fignon (1984, 1985) had a fierce rivalry in the late 70s to mid-80s.
Greg Lemond was the first American winner who won in 1986, 1989, and 1990.
Miguel Indurain dominated the early to mid-90s, winning in 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, and 1995.
Lance Armstrong won seven Tour de France in a row (1999 to 2005) with the US Postal Team, but was stripped of all the wins in 2012 after admitting to doping violations.
Chris Froome dominated the mid-2010s, winning in 2013, 2015, 2016, and 2017.
Tadej Pogacar won back to back in 2020 and 2021 while still being 22 years old.

Winner	Nationality	Wins	Years
Lance Armstrong	United States	7	1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005
Jacques Anquetil	France	5	1957, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964
Eddy Merckx	Belgium	5	1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974
Bernard Hinault	France	5	1978, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1985
Miguel Indurain	Spain	5	1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995
Chris Froome	Great Britain	4	2013, 2015, 2016, 2017
Philippe Thys	Belgium	3	1913, 1914, 1920
Louison Bobet	France	3	1953, 1954, 1955
Greg LeMond	United States	3	1986, 1989, 1990
Lucien Petit-Breton	France	2	1907, 1908
Firmin Lambot	Belgium	2	1919, 1922
Ottavio Bottecchia	Italy	2	1924, 1925
Nicolas Frantz	Luxembourg	2	1927, 1928
André Leducq	France	2	1930, 1932
Antonin Magne	France	2	1931, 1934
Sylvère Maes	Belgium	2	1936, 1939
Fausto Coppi	Italy	2	1949, 1952
Bernard Thévenet	France	2	1975, 1977
Laurent Fignon	France	2	1983, 1984
Alberto Contador	Spain	2	2007, 2009
Tadej Pogačar	Slovenia	2	2020, 2021

Riders with the most Tour de France wins

Oldest Tour de France winners

The oldest General Classification winner was Firmin Lambot in 1922, aged 36.

In the last 10 years, Cadel Evans won in 2011 (aged 34), Bradley Wiggins in 2012 (aged 32), Chris Froome in 2017 (aged 32), and Geraint Thomas in 2018 (aged 32).

Riders aged 32 and over are often considered past their peak years and are on the decline in modern professional cycling. There are 19 of the 108 editions (17.6%) where a rider aged 32 and above has won the General Classification.

Winner	Nationality	Age	Years
Firmin Lambot	Belgium	36	1922
Lucien Buysse	Belgium	34	1926
Gino Bartali	Italy	34	1948
Joop Zoetemelk	Netherlands	34	1980
Lance Armstrong	United States	34	2005
Cadel Evans	Australia	34	2011
Firmin Lambot	Belgium	33	1919
Léon Scieur	Belgium	33	1921
Henri Pélissier	France	33	1923
Maurice De Waele	Belgium	33	1929
Fausto Coppi	Italy	33	1952
Lance Armstrong	United States	33	2004
Carlos Sastre	Spain	33	2008
Maurice Garin	France	32	1903
Bjarne Riis	Denmark	32	1996
Lance Armstrong	United States	32	2003
Bradley Wiggins	Great Britain	32	2012
Chris Froome	Great Britain	32	2017
Geraint Thomas	Great Britain	32	2018

Oldest Tour de France winners

Youngest Tour de France winners

The youngest General Classification winner was Henri Cornet 1904, aged 20.

In recent years, Egan Bernal won in 2019 (aged 22), and Tadej Pogacar in 2020 (aged 21). They also won the Youth Classification during these years as they were under 26 years old.

Riders aged 26 and below have won 35 of the 108 editions so far (32.4%). 26 years old is the cut-off age for the Youth Classification.

Winner	Nationality	Age	Years
Henri Cornet	France	20	1904
Octave Lapize	France	21	1910
Tadej Pogačar	Slovenia	21	2020
François Faber	Luxembourg	22	1909
Romain Maes	Belgium	22	1935
Egan Bernal	Colombia	22	2019
Tadej Pogačar	Slovenia	22	2021
Philippe Thys	Belgium	23	1913
Philippe Thys	Belgium	23	1914
Jacques Anquetil	France	23	1957
Felice Gimondi	Italy	23	1965
Laurent Fignon	France	23	1983
Louis Trousselier	France	24	1905
Lucien Petit-Breton	France	24	1907
Odile Defraye	Belgium	24	1912
Gino Bartali	Italy	24	1938
Eddy Merckx	Belgium	24	1969
Bernard Hinault	France	24	1978
Laurent Fignon	France	24	1984
Jan Ullrich	Germany	24	1997
Alberto Contador	Spain	24	2007
Lucien Petit-Breton	France	25	1908
Lucien Aimar	France	25	1966
Eddy Merckx	Belgium	25	1970
Bernard Hinault	France	25	1979
Greg LeMond	United States	25	1986
Andy Schleck	Luxembourg	25	2010
André Leducq	France	26	1930
Georges Speicher	France	26	1933
Roger Lapébie	France	26	1937
Jean Robic	France	26	1947
Hugo Koblet	Switzerland	26	1951
Charly Gaul	Luxembourg	26	1958
Eddy Merckx	Belgium	26	1971
Alberto Contador	Spain	26	2009

Youngest Tour de France winners

Fastest winning times

The top 10 fastest times in Tour de France were all achieved after the year 2000 with the exception of 1988 by Pedro Delgado (84h 27′ 53″). Four of the top 5 times were achieved in the last five years.

Jonas Vingegaard from Team Jumbo-Visma set the fastest ever time in 2022, finsihing the 3,328km race in 79h 32′ 29″ with an average speed 41.84km/h. It was also the only time where the total time is below 80 hours.

This is then closely followed by Lance Armstrong, in 2002, finishing the 3,276km race in 82h 05′ 12″ with an average speed of 39.93km/h, and Tadej Pogacar in 2021 with 82h 56′ 36″ (41.165km/h average speed).

More reading : Fastest Tour de France Time Trial Average Speed

Winner	Nationality	Winning time	Year
Jonas Vingegaard	Denmark	79h 32′ 29″	2022
Lance Armstrong	United States	82h 05′ 12″	2002
Tadej Pogačar	Slovenia	82h 56′ 36″	2021
Egan Bernal	Colombia	82h 57′ 00″	2019
Geraint Thomas	Great Britain	83h 17′ 13″	2018
Lance Armstrong	United States	83h 36′ 02″	2004
Lance Armstrong	United States	83h 41′ 12″	2003
Chris Froome	Great Britain	83h 56′ 20″	2013
Pedro Delgado	Spain	84h 27′ 53″	1988
Chris Froome	Great Britain	84h 46′ 14″	2015
Alberto Contador	Spain	85h 48′ 35″	2009

Fastest winning times

Slowest winning times

The slowest time in the Tour de France is almost three times as long as the fastest time. All the top 10 slowest times happened between 1914 and 1927 before the advancement in bike technologies, nutrition, training, and team tactics.

Winner	Nationality	Winning time	Year
Lucien Buysse	Belgium	238h 44′ 25″	1926
Firmin Lambot	Belgium	231h 07′ 15″	1919
Philippe Thys	Belgium	228h 36′ 13″	1920
Ottavio Bottecchia	Italy	226h 18′ 21″	1924
Henri Pélissier	France	222h 15′ 30″	1923
Firmin Lambot	Belgium	222h 08′ 06″	1922
Léon Scieur	Belgium	221h 50′ 26″	1921
Ottavio Bottecchia	Italy	219h 10′ 18″	1925
Philippe Thys	Belgium	200h 28′ 48″	1914
Nicolas Frantz	Luxembourg	198h 16′ 42″	1927

Slowest winning times

Countries with the most wins

There are 64 different winners from 15 countries.

French riders have the most wins at 33. The last French winner was Bernard Hinault in 1985.
Belgium riders have 18 wins with Lucien Van Impe being the last winner in 1976.
Spanish riders won 12 times with Alberto Contador in 2009.
American and Italian riders won 10 times each. Lance Armstrong was the last American winner in 2005 and Vincenzo Nibali was the last Italian winner in 2014.
Bradley Wiggins was the first British rider to win the Tour de France in 2012 and followed by Chris Froome and lastly Geraint Thomas in 2018.
Cadel Evans is the only Australian to win in 2011, and Egan Bernal (Colombia) is the sole South American winner in 2019.

Country	Wins	Last win	Winner
France	36	1985	Bernard Hinault
Belgium	18	1976	Lucien Van Impe
Spain	12	2009	Alberto Contador
United States	10	2005	Lance Armstrong
Italy	10	2014	Vincenzo Nibali
Great Britain	6	2018	Geraint Thomas
Luxembourg	5	2010	Andy Schleck