Eddy Merckx stands as one of the greatest cyclists ever seen on two wheels, and won everything imaginable in cycling.
At number 10, Bernard Hinault ranks ahead of Jacques Anquetil.
Peter Sagan adds his unique brand of flair to cycling. Known as one of the premier athletes on both cyclo-cross and track circuits, he has won multiple world championships over time.
Eddy Merckx
Eddy Merckx is widely considered one of the greatest cyclists of all time. He won five Tour de Frances, an unprecedented achievement that no other rider has come close to matching, multiple Giro d’Italia victories, as well as Vuelta d’Espaa wins and numerous races that comprised “The Five Monuments of Cycling”, such as Milan-San Remo, Paris-Roubaix, Tour of Flanders Liege-Bastogne-Liege and Giro di Lombardia victories). Merckx reigned supreme time trials winning six times at world championships; fans everywhere loved his calm but determined approach and admiring personality.
Merckx was an all-round biker who could win any race he entered. He took great pleasure in cycling, dedicating himself fully to it. Being competitive himself, Merckx made sure he was at his peak in every category of race he entered – often training alone to improve fitness levels and become even better at cycling.
Even as a young child, Merckx was passionate about cycling. So eager was he to pursue competitive cycling that he petitioned his parents for permission to drop out of school to focus on cycling instead. Even with his unpromising build, he was determined to become a professional cyclist.
Merckx started his cycling career competing in amateur races, quickly becoming an elite runner. In 1961 he competed in his inaugural race and finished sixth. That same year he joined the Belgian Cycling Federation where he trained under former professional cyclist Felicien Vervaecke.
Merckx was selected for the Summer Olympic Road Race where he finished 12th. Later that year he turned professional, signing with Rik Vann Looy’s Belgian Solo-Superia team where he would contest 70 races over an 18 month period and won nine.
Mark Cavendish
Mark Cavendish stands alone as an iconic sprinter. Not only a lightning bolt – but also an accomplished racer and tactician who knows when and how to play his cards; passionate and emotional with a fiery temper but incredibly likeable and charismatic as well.
Cavendish had long been considered an unrivaled sprinter, yet there were times he seemed off his game. A series of victories at Milan-San Remo and an inconclusive road world championship performance led some observers to speculate he may have fallen off. Yet his stunning comeback in 2021 proved otherwise.
One hat-trick of stage wins at the Tour de France propelled him into equalling Eddy Merckx as most prolific Tour stage winner of all time – making his return such an epic triumph despite their nature and style of achievement.
On the final stage of 2017, Cavendish was gifted an unassailable lead by Quick-Step in the bunch sprint, before using his characteristic anticipation to pick off Steegmans with an amazing acceleration that left no one behind him a chance of keeping pace. No one was capable of keeping pace.
Cavendish captured everything great about him at that momentous Tour de France win in 2009. After an impressive debut performance, and with incidents such as Mark Renshaw headbutting Thor Hushovd and boxing himself into trouble as notable exceptions, this victory marked only his second Tour victory ever! Nevertheless, six stages won over three years.
Peter Sagan
Peter Sagan of Slovakia is one of cycling’s greatest talent. Since first breaking into elite level racing in 2010, he has won multiple races, including two stages at Paris-Nice in 2010. Soon thereafter he became a master sprinter, eventually going on to win seven more Tour de France stages as well as its points classification title.
Though known for his sprinting abilities, Sagan can excel on even the toughest terrain. He excels on cobbles as well as mountainous stages – qualities which have enabled him to enjoy success across different types of cycling events such as one-day Classics and Grand Tours.
As such, Sagan is widely considered one of the greatest cyclists of his generation. He excels at mixing up his racing, from flat stage sprints and climbing stages all the way through to attack on mountain stages and even winning an entire Giro d’Italia stage after riding over Poggio di San Remo’s summit and outsprinting Michal Kwiatkowski and Julian Alaphilippe’s sprint finish for victory!
Sagan’s ability to reach multiple audiences stems from his captivating personality and style. He is well known for adding excitement and comic relief to races with his charming smile and humorous quips; making him an invaluable fan favourite and an ideal representative of BORA hansgrohe team.
Outside the world of cycling, Sagan enjoys cooking and owns a small hair salon with his sister. In his free time he also plays football and gymnastics.
Vincenzo Nibali
Nibali stands out as the greatest climber of all time due to his raw power in cycling, something few others can match. Furthermore, he’s an acclaimed racer; one of only a select few to have ever worn pink at Giro and won both stages and general classification at Tour de France; not forgetting his reputation for doing what’s right when it comes to drugs use.
Growing up in Sicily – Italy’s southernmost province – Nibali’s father Salvatore took great pleasure in tuning his bicycle, immersing young Nibali in cycling culture through posters of Marco Pantani on his walls and VHS tapes of Francesco Moser on VCR players. Starting racing at nine years old he quickly progressed into professional status before turning 17!
He excelled at Grand Tours, winning both the Giro d’Italia and Tour de France three times respectively and finishing as runner-up twice more in these events.
Just a few highlights from his impressive career have seen him win 191 races. Additionally, he holds seven World Championship titles on both tracks and roads; making him the only rider ever to accomplish such a feat!
He is an incredible racer, currently racing for Team TotalEnergies in the Classics. With an engaging style that makes him an absolute joy to watch; from flat riding skills on flat terrain, through mountain speed on technical sections and handling loads of pressure well – to leading his teammates with calmness even during stressful moments!
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Felice Gimondi
Gimondi was one of the greatest Italian cyclists ever to grace cycling history, known for being an incredible sprinter and grand tour winner – winning both the Giro d’Italia three times and Vuelta Espana twice. He amassed 191 championship victories en route to being considered one of cycling history’s greatest road racers; today many still admire him fondly.
Gimondi became the first Italian to win the Tour de France after growing up in Northern Italy’s mountains, learning to ride from his mother. She used a bicycle to deliver mail at her local post office and served as his trainer; her experience racing cyclist mother was also instrumental in teaching him. Starting his professional cycling career with Salvarani team in 1964 and placing second behind Eddy Merckx at 1971 Tour de France while winning other races such as Milan-San Remo, Giro d’Italia, and Fleche Wallonne among others.
Gimondi was known for his talents across all disciplines of athletics. As an exceptional time trialist, he set an hour record at Milan’s Velodromo Vigorelli which stood for 14 years until it was broken by Jacques Anquetil in 1978. Additionally, Gimondi won bronze at 1952 Olympic Games road race competitions and received multiple Olympic medals.
He retired in 1973 but returned in 2008 for the Tour of California where he finished 3rd. Since then he has started manufacturing his own brand of bikes under Rock Racing and working to develop carbon fiber frames for them. Known for his humble yet positive approach towards cycling he brought an unassuming and carefree style into it that earned him membership of Laureus World Sports Academy.
