us grand tour winners

Sepp Kuss wins Spanish Vuelta, becoming the first American to win a Grand Tour race in a decade

MADRID — A decade later, the United States has a Grand Tour winner again.

Sepp Kuss won the Spanish Vuelta on Sunday to become the first American to win one of cycling’s top races since Chris Horner earned the Vuelta victory in 2013. The other Grand Tour events are the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France.

Kuss had effectively secured the victory ahead of Sunday’s largely ceremonial stage, when rivals in the Spanish capital respected his lead and did not launch any attacks as per cycling tradition.

“It’s incredible. I think today was the stage that I suffered the most of the whole race, now I’m just glad it’s over,” Kuss said. “It’s life-changing for sure. I think I’ll look back on this experience with a lot of fun memories. It’s still sinking in, I think it’s gonna take quite some time. Now, a big celebration. Family, friends are here, and that’s gonna be really special.”

It was a surprising victory for Kuss, who entered the race in a supporting role to his Jumbo-Visma teammates Jonas Vingegaard — the two-time Tour de France winner — and Primoz Roglic, a three-time Vuelta winner.

Vingegaard and Roglic finished second and third overall, respectively, capping a dominant performance and a historic treble for Jumbo-Visma, which swept all three Grand Tour events this year. Roglic won the Giro d’Italia in May and Vingegaard repeated as Tour de France champion in July.

Kuss crossed the line along with his teammates, who were all wearing a special jersey in honor of the team’s treble.

Alpecin-Deceuninck rider Kaden Groves prevailed in the final sprint to win the last stage.

Kuss took the lead in the eighth stage and never relinquished it despite being pushed hard by his teammates a few times. The American held his own on difficult climbs up the Col du Tourmalet in France and the Alto de l’Angliru in northern Spain, ending the three-week race with a 17-second advantage.

The 29-year-old from Durango, Colorado, started cycling as a way to train all year for his passion of cross-country skiing. But he eventually changed the skis for wheels and has for several seasons featured as one of the top support riders for Jumbo-Visma. He now lives in Andorra with his wife in the Pyrenees Mountains nestled between Spain and France.

The final stage began at Madrid’s horse-racing track and ended with riders taking laps around some of the iconic monuments in the Spanish capital.

Kuss took it easy within the peloton and was celebrated by his rivals and fans who lined Madrid’s streets.

Last year’s champion, Remco Evenepoel of Soudal Quick-Step, ended as King of the Mountains and became the first Belgian to win the Vuelta’s most combative award. Groves became the first Australian to win the points standings, while 21-year-old Juan Ayuso of Spain was the best young rider.

Organizers announced Sunday that the 2024 edition of the Vuelta will begin in Portugal, with the cities of Lisbon, Oeiras and Cascais hosting the race’s official start.

Lisbon was the first foreign city to host a Vuelta start back in 1997.

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GUADARRAMA, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 16: (L-R) Jonas Vingegaard of Denmark, Sepp Kuss of The United States - Red Leader Jersey final overall winner and Primož Roglic of Slovenia and Team Jumbo-Visma cross the finish line during the 78th Tour of Spain 2023, Stage 20 a 207.8km stage from Manzanares El Real to Guadarrama / #UCIWT / on September 16, 2023 in Guadarrama, Spain. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

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In an unpredictable Vuelta a España, Sepp Kuss became the fourth American man to win one of cycling’s three Grand Tours and the first to do it in 10 years.

Kuss (rhymes with moose), a 29-year-old from Durango, Colorado, led the Vuelta, the year’s third and final Grand Tour after the Giro d’Italia and Tour de France, for the last two weeks and completed his victory with Sunday’s ceremonial ride into Madrid.

After more than 76 hours in the saddle over three weeks, he won by 17 seconds over Jumbo-Visma teammate Jonas Vingegaard — the two-time reigning Tour de France winner from Denmark.

Kuss went into Sunday with that 17-second lead, which was considered safe. As in the Tour de France, riders at or near the top of the overall Vuelta standings traditionally do not attack on the last stage. It’s usually a day for sprinters to contest the stage victory at the end.

That played out Sunday, so Kuss became the first American man to win a Grand Tour since Chris Horner took the 2013 Vuelta at age 41.

Going into the Vuelta, Kuss was expected to reprise his role from previous Grand Tours — as a super domestique working for Vingegaard or three-time Vuelta champion Primož Roglič of Slovenia. Vingegaard or Roglič (or Belgian Remco Evenepoel of Soudal–Quick-Step) was supposed to win this stage race.

But Kuss used those climbing skills to win the sixth stage from a large breakaway on a mountaintop finish on Aug. 31. He moved nearly three minutes ahead of Vingegaard and Roglič.

At the time, Evenepoel was considered the biggest threat to Vingegaard and Roglič. Perhaps even as Kuss moved into the leader’s jersey two days after his stage win.

Evenepoel was expected to erase much of that lead in stage 10’s time trial (16 miles), but Kuss rode decently and held onto a 69-second advantage. Evenepoel then surprisingly cracked on a mountain stage on Sept. 8 and out of the general classification race.

While it is rare for a domestique to gap team leaders, what happened next was even more intriguing.

Kuss, Roglič and Vingegaard went into the final week of the Vuelta in first, second and third place in the overall standings. Jumbo-Visma has been the world’s dominant team for the last three years, but never like this at a Grand Tour.

Typically, a cyclist does not try to wrestle a leader’s jersey from a teammate, but that’s just what appeared to be happening on Tuesday and Wednesday as Vingegaard and then Roglič won consecutive stages.

Kuss’ lead was cut to eight seconds, but order appeared to be restored on the final mountaintop finish on Thursday. Kuss and Roglič finished together, with Vingegaard another nine seconds back.

The message was clear. Roglič won the Giro in May. Vingegaard won the Tour de France in July. This is Kuss’ Vuelta.

A lasting scene from the three-week Vuelta will come from Saturday, when Kuss strolled into the finish arm in arm with Vingegaard to his right and Roglič to his left, each pointing to the man in the middle.

“A super special moment,” Kuss said a few minutes later. “It hasn’t sunk in yet.”

A team had never swept all three Grand Tours in one year, according to cycling media, let alone with three different riders.

And Kuss made history of his own, becoming the first man to win the Vuelta after racing both the Giro and the Tour that year since the Vuelta was moved from April and May to September in 1995.

Many use wins at the Vuelta or the Giro as a springboard to Tour de France yellow jersey ambitions the following year.

For Kuss, that appears unlikely as things stand at Jumbo-Visma. Vingegaard is three years younger and next year can three-peat at the Tour.

“If [Kuss] wants to, he will get the chances in the future for sure,” Vingegaard said. “I hope he will want to because he’s so good that he deserves all the chances. Obviously, then I will lose a super great helper in the mountains, but Sepp deserves all the chances he gets.”

If this is Kuss’ peak, he still will go down as one of the greatest cyclists in American history — one of four to win a Grand Tour (excluding Lance Armstrong, who was stripped of seven Tour titles for doping).

Quite a feat for a kid who grew up playing ice hockey, won college mountain bike titles at the University of Colorado and didn’t think about professional road cycling until after graduating with an advertising degree in 2017.

His triumph in Spain came against more decorated fields than wins from Horner (2013 Vuelta) and Andy Hampsten (1988 Giro, though Hampsten had an epic ride into the lead through a snowstorm). It may only be surpassed in American Grand Tour history by Greg LeMond’s Tour de France titles in 1986, 1989 and 1990.

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Kuss secures Spanish Vuelta victory to become first American to win a Grand Tour race in a decade

Spain cycling la vuelta.

MADRID (AP) — A decade later, the United States has a Grand Tour winner again.

Sepp Kuss won the Spanish Vuelta on Sunday to become the first American to win one of cycling’s top races since Chris Horner earned the Vuelta victory in 2013. The other Grand Tour events are the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France.

Kuss had effectively secured the victory ahead of Sunday’s largely ceremonial stage, when rivals in the Spanish capital respected his lead and did not launch any attacks as per cycling tradition.

“It’s incredible. I think today was the stage that I suffered the most of the whole race, now I’m just glad it’s over," Kuss said. “It’s life-changing for sure. I think I’ll look back on this experience with a lot of fun memories. It’s still sinking in, I think it’s gonna take quite some time. Now, a big celebration. Family, friends are here, and that’s gonna be really special."

It was a surprising victory for Kuss, who entered the race in a supporting role to his Jumbo-Visma teammates Jonas Vingegaard — the two-time Tour de France winner — and Primoz Roglic, a three-time Vuelta winner.

Vingegaard and Roglic finished second and third overall, respectively, capping a dominant performance and a historic treble for Jumbo-Visma, which swept all three Grand Tour events this year. Roglic won the Giro d’Italia in May and Vingegaard repeated as Tour de France champion in July.

Kuss crossed the line along with his teammates, who were all wearing a special jersey in honor of the team’s treble.

Alpecin-Deceuninck rider Kaden Groves prevailed in the final sprint to win the last stage.

Kuss took the lead in the eighth stage and never relinquished it despite being pushed hard by his teammates a few times. The American held his own on difficult climbs up the Col du Tourmalet in France and the Alto de l’Angliru in northern Spain, ending the three-week race with a 17-second advantage.

The 29-year-old from Durango, Colorado, started cycling as a way to train all year for his passion of cross-country skiing. But he eventually changed the skis for wheels and has for several seasons featured as one of the top support riders for Jumbo-Visma. He now lives in Andorra with his wife in the Pyrenees Mountains nestled between Spain and France.

The final stage began at Madrid’s horse-racing track and ended with riders taking laps around some of the iconic monuments in the Spanish capital.

Kuss took it easy within the peloton and was celebrated by his rivals and fans who lined Madrid’s streets.

Last year's champion, Remco Evenepoel of Soudal Quick-Step, ended as King of the Mountains and became the first Belgian to win the Vuelta’s most combative award. Groves became the first Australian to win the points standings, while 21-year-old Juan Ayuso of Spain was the best young rider.

VUELTA GOES TO PORTUGAL

Organizers announced Sunday that the 2024 edition of the Vuelta will begin in Portugal, with the cities of Lisbon, Oeiras and Cascais hosting the race’s official start.

Lisbon was the first foreign city to host a Vuelta start back in 1997.

AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/apf-sports

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The Colorado climber defied the odds — and sometimes his own Jumbo-Visma teammates — to join the elite club of US grand tour winners.

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Sepp Kuss enters the history books Sunday with his hard-fought and emotional victory at the Vuelta a España .

With a slender margin, the popular and powerful American climber becomes the first U.S. male in a decade to win a grand tour.

Kuss defied the odds — and sometimes his own Jumbo-Visma teammates — to join the elite club of U.S. grand tour winners.

“I’m living the dream today,” Kuss said. “Usually, I’m on the other side. I’m often on the winning teams, but to be the one wearing the jersey is just incredible. So yeah, still living a dream.”

Also read : Kuss and his remarkable journey from helper to champion

Kuss survived another frenetic stage in the Vuelta’s finale on the mean streets of Madrid to win the overall crown, and cement Jumbo-Visma’s historic grand tour clean sweep in 2023.

“It’s incredible,” Kuss said. “I think today was the stage I was suffering the most in the whole race. I am just glad it’s over. I had a feeling it would be a fast stage when I saw all those guys getting ready to attack. I suffered more today than I did on the Angliru.”

Jumbo-Visma also swept the top-3 on the podium, a first in almost 60 years, with Jonas Vingegaard and Primož Roglič sharing the spotlight with the rider who was essential in their six grand tour victories.

“We have written history and have taken all three spots on the podium,” Vingegaard said. “So obviously we are super happy and proud of how this year has been. I think we can call it a historical season for our team, so obviously happy.”

This Vuelta marked Kuss’s third straight grand tour in 2023, and he was a key member of the team’s victory at the Giro d’Italia and Tour de France. Kuss also started the Tour and Vuelta in 2022, making this fifth consecutive grand tour start.

Kuss and his podium speech from Madrid:

“It is incredible to be here. Normally I am a bit out there watching these two guys end up on the podium. Like I told them earlier on the bus, for me being with these two, with Primož for the Giro and Jonas for the Tour, I feel so proud and honored to be standing with them here in La Vuelta.

“It has been a crazy three weeks, and I couldn’t have done it without the support of Primož, Jonas, Robert, Wilco, Jan, Dylan, Attila, everybody on the team. I think apart from being super strong riders, just really good people and amazing times spending the three weeks with them.

“Apart from them, the staff, soigneurs, mechanics, directors, everybody gave so much. Also my wife Noemi, my mom Sabina being with me at every finish, as well as my wife’s family enjoying the road trip through Spain and supporting me through every moment in this Vuelta. I am always thinking about my dad back home and my home town of Durango — a big shout out to Durango!

Kuss then switched to Spanish to address the public in Madrid:

“I also want to thank the whole audience for this wonderful Vuelta, because without your support, I don’t know … you gave me so much love and so much support in every stage, in every uphill. I could hear my name in the mountains and in many little places, corners of Spain as well.

“For me the closeness with the audience is what I love about cycling, and what I love about the Vuelta. And this year more than ever I have enjoyed so much your love and support.

“It has helped me to handle so many things, so thank you very much.”

Sepp Kuss: ‘I’m living the dream’

Kuss didn’t come to the Vuelta thinking of overall victory, but he won stage 6 and rattled up the GC, moving nearly three minutes ahead of pre-race favorites Remco Evenepoel and his teammates.

The Durango rider climbed into the red leader’s jersey two days later, and beat the odd-makers by defending the lead in the individual time trial to open the second week. Once into the Pyrénées, Kuss rose to the occasion, and found wings to carry red into the final week.

Controversy erupted when teammates Vingegaard and Roglič attacked Kuss in back-to-back stage victories that saw Kuss’s lead shrink to just eight seconds.

Also read: Kuss more popular in Spain than USA, but that could change

Commentators criticized the team’s “let them race” tactics, and social media blew up after it appeared that Jumbo-Visma was racing against one of its own.

Jumbo-Visma ordered a truce in the aftermath of the Angliru battle, and the team closed ranks around its affable and popular super domestique to carry Kuss into Madrid for Sunday’s final stage.

With victory, Kuss becomes the fourth U.S. male rider to win a grand tour, joining Greg LeMond, Andy Hampsten, and Chris Horner in the record books as official winners of cycling’s three-week stage races.

The Coloradan vowed that the success will not change him as a person.

“I will remain humble. There are different ways of being a champion, but I will remain humble,” Kuss said.

“It’s life-changing, for sure, but I will look back on this experience with a lot of fond memories. It’s still sinking in, that will take some time,” he said in Madrid. “Tonight? A big celebration, family and friends are here, and that will be really special, to be with the riders and staff to tell the stories over the past few weeks. So many good memories and good times.”

US official grand tour victories:

Tour de France 1986: Greg LeMond Giro d’Italia 1988: Andrew Hampsten Tour de France 1989: Greg LeMond Tour de France 1990: Greg LeMond La Vuelta 2013: Chris Horner La Vuelta 2023: Sepp Kuss

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Vuelta champ Sepp Kuss first American cyclist to win Grand Tour in a decade

September 17, 2023 at 12:00 p.m.

by TALES AZZONI / The Associated Press

MADRID — A decade later, the United States has a Grand Tour winner again.

Sepp Kuss won the Vuelta a España on Sunday to become the first American to win one of cycling's top races since Chris Horner was the Vuelta champion in 2013. The other Grand Tour events are the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France.

Kuss had effectively secured the victory ahead of Sunday's largely ceremonial stage, when rivals in the Spanish capital respected his lead and did not launch any attacks, per cycling tradition.

"It's incredible. I think today was the stage that I suffered the most of the whole race; now I'm just glad it's over," Kuss said. "It's life-changing for sure. I think I'll look back on this experience with a lot of fun memories. It's still sinking in. I think it's going to take quite some time. Now a big celebration. Family, friends are here, and that's going to be really special."

It was a surprising victory for Kuss, who entered the race in a supporting role to Jumbo-Visma teammates Jonas Vingegaard, who is the two-time reigning Tour de France champion, and Primoz Roglic, a three-time Vuelta winner.

Vingegaard and Roglic finished second and third overall, respectively, capping a dominant performance and a historic 2023 for Jumbo-Visma, which swept this year's Grand Tour titles. Roglic won the Giro d'Italia in May and Vingegaard repeated in France in July. Kuss crossed the line Sunday with his teammates, all wearing a special jersey in honor of Jumbo-Visma's sweep.

Kuss took the lead in the eighth stage and never relinquished it despite being pushed hard by his teammates a few times. The American held his own on difficult climbs up the Col du Tourmalet in France and the Alto de l'Angliru in northern Spain, ending the three-week race with a 17-second advantage.

The 29-year-old from Durango, Colorado, started cycling as a way to train all year for his passion of cross-country skiing. But he eventually traded the skis for wheels and has for several seasons featured as one of the top support riders for Jumbo-Visma. He now lives in Andorra with his wife in the Pyrenees Mountains nestled between Spain and France.

The final stage began at Madrid's horse-racing track and ended with riders taking laps around some of the iconic monuments in the Spanish capital. Alpecin-Deceuninck cyclist Kaden Groves prevailed in the final sprint to win the last stage.

Kuss took it easy within the peloton and was celebrated by his rivals and fans who lined Madrid's streets.

Last year's champion, Remco Evenepoel of Soudal Quick-Step, ended as King of the Mountains and became the first Belgian to win the Vuelta's most combative award. Groves became the first Australian to win the points standings, while 21-year-old Juan Ayuso of Spain was the best young rider.

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Kuss Secures Spanish Vuelta Victory to Become First American to Win a Grand Tour Race in a Decade

The United States has a Grand Tour winner again

Manu Fernandez

Sepp Kuss of Jumbo-Visma celebrates after winning the 21st stage of the Vuelta cycling race between Hipodromo de La Zarzuela and Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

MADRID (AP) — A decade later, the United States has a Grand Tour winner again.

Sepp Kuss won the Spanish Vuelta on Sunday to become the first American to win one of cycling’s top races since Chris Horner earned the Vuelta victory in 2013. The other Grand Tour events are the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France.

Kuss had effectively secured the victory ahead of Sunday’s largely ceremonial stage, when rivals in the Spanish capital respected his lead and did not launch any attacks as per cycling tradition.

“It’s incredible. I think today was the stage that I suffered the most of the whole race, now I’m just glad it’s over," Kuss said. “It’s life-changing for sure. I think I’ll look back on this experience with a lot of fun memories. It’s still sinking in, I think it’s gonna take quite some time. Now, a big celebration. Family, friends are here, and that’s gonna be really special."

It was a surprising victory for Kuss, who entered the race in a supporting role to his Jumbo-Visma teammates Jonas Vingegaard — the two-time Tour de France winner — and Primoz Roglic, a three-time Vuelta winner.

Vingegaard and Roglic finished second and third overall, respectively, capping a dominant performance and a historic treble for Jumbo-Visma, which swept all three Grand Tour events this year. Roglic won the Giro d’Italia in May and Vingegaard repeated as Tour de France champion in July.

Kuss crossed the line along with his teammates, who were all wearing a special jersey in honor of the team’s treble.

Alpecin-Deceuninck rider Kaden Groves prevailed in the final sprint to win the last stage.

Kuss took the lead in the eighth stage and never relinquished it despite being pushed hard by his teammates a few times. The American held his own on difficult climbs up the Col du Tourmalet in France and the Alto de l’Angliru in northern Spain, ending the three-week race with a 17-second advantage.

The 29-year-old from Durango, Colorado, started cycling as a way to train all year for his passion of cross-country skiing. But he eventually changed the skis for wheels and has for several seasons featured as one of the top support riders for Jumbo-Visma. He now lives in Andorra with his wife in the Pyrenees Mountains nestled between Spain and France.

The final stage began at Madrid’s horse-racing track and ended with riders taking laps around some of the iconic monuments in the Spanish capital.

Kuss took it easy within the peloton and was celebrated by his rivals and fans who lined Madrid’s streets.

Last year's champion, Remco Evenepoel of Soudal Quick-Step, ended as King of the Mountains and became the first Belgian to win the Vuelta’s most combative award. Groves became the first Australian to win the points standings, while 21-year-old Juan Ayuso of Spain was the best young rider.

VUELTA GOES TO PORTUGAL

Organizers announced Sunday that the 2024 edition of the Vuelta will begin in Portugal, with the cities of Lisbon, Oeiras and Cascais hosting the race’s official start.

Lisbon was the first foreign city to host a Vuelta start back in 1997.

AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/apf-sports

Copyright 2023 The  Associated Press . All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Who is the greatest Grand Tour rider ever?

Grand Tour overall wins are the ultimate test of pro cyclists – but who is the best of all time? Is it Merckx with 11 wins? Coppi or Contador with seven each? Let the debate begin...

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For some, this won't even be a debate. After all, while there are many ways to slice through the mountains of data that surround professional cycling, pretty much any list of significance you can put together is going to be topped by Eddy Merckx.

But we're open to the possibility that there might be a little bit more to it than that. Here, then, is a brief look at some of the greatest in history, and a few suggestions as to why each one might be the best of all.

Eddy Merckx

11 wins (Tour 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974; Giro 1968, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1974; Vuelta 1973)

For the encyclopaedists at the renowned procyclingstats.com website, this probably wouldn't be a debate. Their ranking system has Eddy Merckx streets ahead of his nearest rival, Bernard Hinault, and frankly, it's pretty hard to argue.

The Belgian has the most career victories in history (525 as a professional and amateur); he won 28 Classics, three World Championships, and held the Hour Record between 1972 and 1984. What is more, he is the only man to have won all three main jerseys at the same Tour, in 1969.

Most importantly though, he has perhaps the most enviable Grand Tour record, winning all the of three of them, the Giro d'Italia (five times), the Tour de France (five times) and the Vuelta a España (once).

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And all, reportedly, despite a heart condition - non-obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy - which these days would probably prevent him from racing.

Bernard Hinault

10 wins (Tour 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1985; Giro 1980, 1982, 1985; Vuelta 1978, 1983)

Step forward 'The Badger', who finished either first or second in every Tour he completed - perhaps unlike Merckx, he didn't need to win every race he entered, but when he wanted to win, he tended to find a way to do so. And never was that better illustrated than in his final Grand Tour victory, the Tour of 1985.

Greg LeMond may feel that he could have made up the few minutes that separated him from his team-mate had the American been allowed to attack Stephen Roche on stage 17. The simple fact, though, that the Frenchman was able to battle through the race's last week after suffering a broken nose in a crash three days before stands as testament to his grit.

Hinault retired just a year later, at the relatively early age of 32. Past his best? Hardly - he had just finished his final Tour second only to LeMond.

>>> The Hour Record: An interactive timeline

Jacques Anquetil

Eight wins (Tour 1957, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964; Giro 1960, 1964; Vuelta 1963)

Another to have won his first Grand Tour, with victory in the 1957 Tour de France, and another not to finish off the podium when making it through the race. Unbeaten in six top-level rides between the 1961 and 1964 seasons, he had a style and grace on the bike that few have matched to such success.

'Monsieur Chrono', the king of the time trial, was also a holder of the Hour Record, taking over from Fausto Coppi on his third attempt after posting 46.159km in June 1956. And throughout a career that featured a significant level of doping controversy, he maintained a taste for the high life: "To prepare for a race," he once said, "there is nothing better than a good pheasant, some champagne and a woman."

>>>What is it like to ride in a team time trial? Cofidis shows you (video)

Miguel Indurain

Seven wins (Tour 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995; Giro 1992, 1993)

The only man to win five Tours back-to-back, 'Big Mig' took a little while to come to the boil compared to others, with his first Grand Tour victory coming at the 1991 Tour de France, six years after he had first entered the Vuelta.

For the next five years, though, he was almost unassailable, with his only defeat in eight outings coming in the 1994 Giro, where he came third. His was an era which rewarded the racing against the clock in which he excelled, with many Tours featuring more than double the amount of time trialling than more recent editions.

The youngest man to lead the Vuelta (at the age of 20), and yet another man to post a record distance for the hour - his 53.040km in 1994 beat the mark of Graeme Obree - his light shone relatively briefly, but fiercely bright.

Fausto Coppi

Seven wins (Tour 1949, 1952; Giro 1940, 1947, 1949, 1952, 1953)

Five times a Giro winner, Fausto Coppi won his first title at the age of 20, before his career was interrupted by the Second World War. He was also deprived of a meaningful shot at the Vuelta, which until 1955 was not even an annual race, and had seen its early years dogged by Spanish parochialism.

In 1942, the Italian set his own Hour Record at 45.798km, a figure which would stand for 14 years until the advent of Anquetil. He is commemorated in the Cima Coppi, a title given to the highest peak in each year's running of the Giro.

Alberto Contador

Seven wins (Tour 2007, 2009; Giro 2008, 2015; Vuelta 2008, 2012, 2014)

Alberto Contador's victory at the 2015 Giro d'Italia took him to seven Grand Tour wins, although the Spaniard has celebrated nine times atop a Grand Tour podium, with the 2010 Tour and 2011 Giro titles stripped after a doping ban. He was the youngest man to win all three Grand Tours (completing the set in 2008 at the age of 25).

He won the Giro and the Vuelta in the same year (in 2008), but between 2015 and his retirement in 2017 he was unable to add another title - which would have taken him ahead of Indurain and Coppi in terms of total Grand Tour wins.

A divisive figure, Contador nevertheless used his attacking flair to become the greatest Grand Tour rider of his generation and certainly worthy of being mentioned among the all-time Grand Tour greats.

Felice Gimondi

Five wins (Tour 1965, Giro 1967, 1969, 1976, Vuelta 1968)

The great Italian perhaps would have been higher up this list had it not been for the dominance of Merckx through the late 60s and early 70s.

Gimondi finished second to the Belgian three times in Grand Tours and finished behind him on numerous other occasions, taking runner-up spot to him in the Tour in 1972 and in the Giro in 1970 and '73.

Still, Gimondi was able to record five Grand Tour wins, including taking three pink jerseys in his home race. He won his first three-week race at the Tour at the tender age of 22, but was unable to take another yellow jersey, finishing on the podium only once more.

He holds the record for most podium finishes at the Giro d'Italia though with nine between his third place finish in 1965 and his final title in 1976.

Gino Bartali

Five wins (Tour 1938, 1948; Giro 1936, 1937, 1946)

Gino Bartali's rivalry with fellow Italian Fausto Coppi may have divided the country, but it drove the sport. Another man whose palmarès would surely have been even more impressive but for the war and the initially inward-looking nature of the Vuelta, he was a Giro winner in 1936 at the age of 21, defending his title a year later and then picking up the Tour de France in 1938.

His staying power saw him through 22 Grand Tours, 20 of which he completed, and his only two non-top ten finishes came in the final years of his career as his 40s approached. His crowning achievement, though, may have been the three consecutive mountain stage wins in the 1948 Tour, a record as yet unmatched.

Chris Froome

Five wins (Tour 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, Vuelta 2017)

Since taking a first Grand Tour podium in Vuelta in 2011, Chris Froome has become the dominant Grand Tour rider of this decade.

With an exceptionally strong team behind him, Froome has taken four titles in the Tour de France and added a Vuelta title in 2017. Not only that, the Briton became the first man since Contador in 2008 to win two Grand Tours in the same year with the Tour/Vuelta double.

To add to that, Froome has finished on the podium on four other occasions at Grand Tours; second at the Tour de France in 2012 and second three times at the Vuelta in '11, '14, '16.

While Froome may be some way off topping this list having never targeted the Giro, he is the only rider aside from Contador to have won the Vuelta in perhaps its more difficult incarnation at the back-end of the year rather than in spring time.

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Follow on Twitter: @richwindy

Richard is digital editor of Cycling Weekly. Joining the team in 2013, Richard became editor of the website in 2014 and coordinates site content and strategy, leading the news team in coverage of the world's biggest races and working with the tech editor to deliver comprehensive buying guides, reviews, and the latest product news.

An occasional racer, Richard spends most of his time preparing for long-distance touring rides these days, or getting out to the Surrey Hills on the weekend on his Specialized Tarmac SL6 (with an obligatory pub stop of course).

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Meet the Americans competing at the 2024 Tour de France

A general classification win may be out of reach for the American riders in the Tour de France, but ending a three-year stage win drought is well within their grasp. 

Sepp Kuss, 29, was the last American to win a stage when he took Stage 15 of the 2021 Tour de France. The Durango, Colorado native is the best rider the country has seen in a decade. Last year, Kuss finished as the top American in 12th place at the Tour de France and won the 2023 Vuelta a España to become the first American Grand Tour winner since Chris Horner won the same race in 2013. However, although slated to be ​​Jonas Vingegaard’s top support rider for the 2024 Tour de France, Kuss withdrew from this year’s edition after testing positive for COVID-19 in the lead-up to the race. 

Greg LeMond remains the only American to have ever won the general classification category at the Tour de France, accomplishing the feat in 1986, 1989 and 1990. American Lance Armstrong won the Tour from 1999-2005 but was subsequently stripped of his seven Tour de France titles for doping by the International Cycling Union in 2012 .

So, who is left in this year's race to give the United States a shot at glory — at least for one stage. Here's a look at the three Americans competing at the 2024 Tour de France.

Matteo Jorgenson (UCI WorldTeam Visma-Lease a Bike)

Jorgenson, 25, is having a breakthrough season with an overall victory at Paris-Nice 2024 and a second-place finish at the 2024 Criterium du Dauphine.

Jorgenson is a strong contender in this year's race for the white jersey, which recognizes the best young rider under 26. A versatile rider, Jorgenson — alongside Kuss — is poised to be USA's best hope for a future Tour de France general classification winner. But for now, he will take over from Kuss to play the chief support role for teammate Jonas Vingegaard, who won the 2022 and 2023 Tour de France. 

This year will be Jorgenson’s third Tour de France. The Idaho-raised cyclist finished 20th in the general classification standings in 2022 and had to withdraw in 2023 due to injuries sustained in a crash along the route.

Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost)

A standout mountain biker during his young adulthood in California, 27-year-old Powless transitioned to the road and turned professional in 2018. 

Powless made history in 2020 as the first Native American to compete in the Tour de France. Since then, he has continued to improve and is coming off his strongest season yet with overall victories at the 2023 Grand Prix La Marseillaise and Étoile de Bessèges. 

In Kuss’ absence, Powless is the top American prospect for pulling off a stage win as he is known for his success with breakaways and aptitude at climbing. Last year, Powless led the King of the Mountain classification for the first half of the Tour but was ultimately edged out by Italy’s Giulio Ciccone. This year, he’ll be looking to finally secure the polka-dotted jersey by the end of the Grand Boucle . 

Hailing from Los Angeles, Quinn is a 24-year-old, up-and-coming cyclist riding in his first Tour de France to support Richard Carapaz, team leader of EF Education-EasyPost. Hot off a victory at the U.S. National Road Race Championships in May, Quinn is a strong all-around rider who excels at climbing and can produce strong sprinting kicks. Quinn will certainly be one to watch as he develops in the coming years.

Tour de France winners

A full list of champions from 1903-2023 and follow Cyclingnews' coverage of the French Grand Tour to find out who will win the yellow jersey in 2024

The 111th edition of the Tour de France starts in Florence, Italy, on Saturday, June 29 and ends three weeks later in Nice on Sunday, July 21. Cyclingnews highlights the full list of champions from 1903-2023. Stay tuned to find out who will be the next winner at the 2024 Tour de France .

Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) is trying to be the first rider since Marco Pantani in 1998 to win the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France in the same year and go down in history as one of the greatest cyclists of all time.

Previous overall and classification winners 

2023  

1 Jonas Vingegaard (Den) Jumbo-Visma 2 Tadej Pogacar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates 3 Simon Yates (GBr) UAE Team Emirates

1 Jonas Vingegaard (Den) Jumbo-Visma 2 Tadej Pogacar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates 3 Geraint Thomas (GBr) Ineos Grenadiers

1 Tadej Pogacar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates 2 Jonas Vingegaard (Den) Jumbo-Visma 3 Richard Carapaz (Ecu) Ineos Grenadiers

2020 1 Tadej Pogacar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates 2 Primoz Roglic (Slo) Team Jumbo-Visma 3 Richie Porte (Aus) Trek-Segafredo

2019 1 Egan Bernal (Col) Team Ineos 2 Geraint Thomas (GBr) Team Ineos 3 Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) Team Jumbo-Visma

2018 1 Geraint Thomas (GBr) Team Sky 2 Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Team Sunweb 3 Chris Froome (GBr) Team Sky

2017 1 Christopher Froome (GBr) Team Sky 2 Rigoberto Uran (Col) Cannondale-Drapac 3 Romain Bardet (Fra) AG2R-La Mondiale

2016 1 Christopher Froome (GBr) Team Sky 2 Romain Bardet (Fra) AG2R-La Mondiale 3 Nairo Alexander Quintana Rojas (Col) Movistar Team

2015 1 Christopher Froome (GBr) Team Sky 2 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team 3 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar Team

2014 1 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana Pro Team 2 Jean-Christophe Péraud (Fra) AG2R-La Mondiale 3 Thibaut Pinot (Fra) FDJ.fr

2013 1 Christopher Froome (GBr) Sky Procycling 2 Nairo Alexander Quintana Rojas (Col) Movistar Team 3 Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha

2012 1 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky Procycling 2 Christopher Froome (GBr) Sky Procycling 3 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale

2011 1 Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing Team 2 Andy Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek 3 Frank Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek

2010 1 *Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank 2 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 3 Samuel Sánchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi

2009 1 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana 2 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank 3 Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana

Note: *Andy Schleck was awarded victory of the 2010 Tour de France after original winner Alberto Contador was disqualified for doping. *Lance Armstrong was stripped of all race results from August 1, 1998 onwards following the US Anti-Doping Agency’s investigation into doping at the US Postal Service team. *Austria's Bernhard Kohl tested positive for EPO-CERA on October 13, 2008. He admitted to its use on October 15, 2008 and was stripped of his third place GC finish at the 2008 Tour de France. *Oscar Pereiro was awarded the victory of the 2006 Tour de France on October 16, 2007, after original winner Floyd Landis was disqualified for doping.

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