The last three winners of the Tour de France

For the first time in almost three years, the Tour de France is back and running as normal. Perhaps the best-known bike race in the world, the gruelling competition is a test of the best cyclists in the world — both their fitness and endurance levels as well as that burning desire to win and be crowned champion, basking in the adulation of a full crowd for the first time since the start of the coronavirus pandemic as well as earning a share of the whopping two-million-euro prize money.

Over 200 cyclists compete in the 2,000-mile race — 23 days of competing through picturesque countryside, tranquil coastlines, boisterous cities and tall mountains, wrapping up at the iconic Champs-Élysées stage in the emblematic streets of Paris. While the Tour de France betting odds are finding it hard to pick a clear favourite, given the sheer number of talented cyclists scattered around the world. The likes of Jonas Vingegaard and Primož Roglič provide entertainment throughout and the sheer unpredictability of the race makes it an interesting prospect.

Navigating your way through the course to secure victory is no easy feat, and experience could well prove invaluable as demonstrated in previous years. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the last three cyclists to write their name in the history books and win the Tour de France.

Tadej Pogačar – 2020 and 2021

It’s testament to a cyclist’s skill to win consecutive Tour de France titles, and in the case of Tadej Pogačar, juggling a global pandemic alongside victories is all the more impressive. With the 2020 race rescheduled due to lockdowns and logistical difficulties, the race eventually took place in late August and concluded in September, with just 176 riders. It looked as if Alexander Kristoff would cruise to victory with a strong sprint on stage one, but Pogačar and Serbian compatriot Roglič, competing for Team Emirates and Jumbo-Visma respectfully, pulled ahead with the former crowned a winner.

Just nine months later the 2021 edition of the race took place, originally scheduled for Copenhagen but moved to Brest due to Denmark hosting football matches in the Euros. And Pogačar was on hand to claim another win, beating Jumbo-Visma again, this time through Jonas Vingegaard, with South-American Richard Carapaz finishing third in a strong first year with Ineos.

Egan Bernal – 2019

As mentioned before, the best thing about the Tour de France is its ability to surprise people, and few in the last fully attended event since the start of the pandemic would have seen Egan Bernal becoming the youngest winner of the race in its modern history. You’d have to trapse back to 1909 to find anyone younger than the Colombian to record victory, winning the race at just 22 years old. It took until the 18^th stage to really establish a lead, but seeing the yellow jersey blitzing through the Parisian streets, it was a moment to relish, and Bernal himself was overcome with emotion at the end.

“Today I am the most happy guy in the world. I just won the Tour de France and I can’t believe it.” He added: “I think I should say thank you to all my team, thank you ‘G’ [Thomas] for the opportunity and all the team for their support and belief in me.”

Geraint Thomas – 2018

The last Brit to reign supreme on French shores, Team Sky fell off the pace last year, but there was once a time when they ruled the roost in terms of Tour de France victories. Having swooped up a hattrick between 2015 and 2018 thanks to the brilliance of Chris Froome, it was Geraint Thomas who ensured a fourth successive win for the team now known as Ineos Grenadiers. Froome would have to settle for third whilst Sunweb’s Tom Dumoulin snagged second place, with the Dutchman perhaps overachieving, with his only other Grand Tour performance of note in the Vuelta a España.