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.
Tour de France winners, 1903 to 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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |