1) Eddy Merckx (BEL):
Known as 'the cannibal' for his insatiable hunger for victories, Eddy Merckx is considered to be the greatest cyclist of all time, as he won no less than 525 races during his illustrious 18-year career, including 11 Grand Tours, all five Monuments, three World Championships, and set a legendary one-hour record.
2) Fausto Coppi (ITA)
Coppi fundamentally revolutionized road cycling in the post-WWII era by introducing modern, scientific approaches to training, diet, and preparation. He was the first cyclist to win both the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France in the same year, achieving this feat twice (1949 and 1952).
3) Jacques Anquetil (FRA)
Legendary French cyclist, who became the first to win the Tour de France five times (1957, 1961–1964) and the first to win all three Grand Tours. Nicknamed "Monsieur Chrono," Anquetil was a superb time-trialist with a smooth, elegant style and dominant in stage races. Anquetil enjoyed a famous, intense rivalry with Frenchman Raymond Poulidor, beating him consistently in the Tour de France.
4) Bernard Hinault (FRA)
Recognised for his aggressive, relentless, and tenacious fighting style, he was known as the "last boss" or le Patron of the peloton. He is the most recent French winner of the men's Tour de France (1985). Hinault is the only rider to finish 1st or 2nd in every Tour de France he finished, and he also finished top of the podium in Liège-Bastogne-Liège (1977, 1980), Paris-Roubaix (1981), and Giro di Lombardia (1979, 1984).
5) Francesco Moser (ITA)
Moser achieved 273 road victories throughout his illustrious career, placing him behind only Eddy Merckx and Rik Van Looy in total wins. The Italian giant won the iconic "Hell of the North" three consecutive years (1978, 1979, 1980) and won the World Road Racing Championship in 1977. In addition, he broke Eddy Merckx's iconic 1972 hour record in 1984.
6) Tadej Pogacar (SLV)
Pogacar is today recognised for his aggressive racing style, versatility across terrains, and immense success at a young age, having won multiple Tour de France titles, the Giro d'Italia, and numerous Monument Classics. At 27 years old, Pogacar is already a four-time Tour de France winner (2020, 2021, 2024, 2025) and won the 2024 Giro d'Italia, completing a rare Giro-Tour double.
7) Roger de Vlaeminck (BEL)
Nicknamed "The Gypsy" and "Monsieur Paris-Roubaix," the Belgian phenomenon was a dominant force in the 1970s, best known for his unrivalled success in the cobblestone classics, particularly Paris-Roubaix. De Vlaeminck is one of only three riders in cycling history to have won all "five Monuments" (Milan–San Remo, Tour of Flanders, Paris–Roubaix, Liège–Bastogne–Liège, and the Giro di Lombardia).
8) Sean Kelly (IRE)
Kelly was ranked as the world's top cyclist from 1984 to 1989 as a versatile all-rounder with 193 professional wins, including nine Monuments, the 1988 Vuelta a España, and seven consecutive Paris-Nice titles. Kelly initially established a reputation as a sprinter (winning four Tour de France green jerseys), but later developed into a formidable grand tour contender.
9) Miguel Indurain (ESP)
Thanks to his amazing ability and physical size measuring 186 centimetres (6 feet 1 inch) and 76 kilograms (168 pounds), he became known as "Miguelón" or "Big Mig". Indurain recorded five consecutive victories in the Tour de France from 1991 to 1995, a record for consecutive wins, and wore the yellow jersey for 60 days. He also won the Giro d'Italia two consecutive times, and in 1994, he set a new world hour record.
10) Gino Bartali (ITA)
Establishing a reputation as a devout Catholic, Bartali won the Tour de France twice (1938, 1948) and the Giro d'Italia three times, and consequently became known as a "Giant of the Mountains". He also won praise for his humanitarian efforts during WWII, when he risked his life to smuggle forged documents for Jewish refugees in his bike frame, earning him the title "Righteous Among the Nations."