By winning the Tour de France for a third time, Chris Froome becomes one of only eight cyclists to win the most famous Cycling championship three times or more, joining the likes of Miguel Indurain, Greg LeMond, Eddy Merckx and Bernard Hinault.
Chris Froome – 3
A bronze medalist in 2012, representing Kenya, Froome is the antithesis to cheating and doping in the 00’s and 10’s, revealing all of his tests and results. He’s on his way to becoming one of the all-time greats if he isn’t already is, winning three of the last four Tours (2013, 2015, 2016), and also became the last recognized champion to defend his title since 1995.
Greg LeMond – 3
Nicknamed L’Americain and LeMonster, LeMond won three tours (1986, 1989, 1990) with La Vie Claire, ADR and Z-Tomasso, and in recent years has been very vocal in the battle against doping in the sport, and also about the failed leadership in UCI, welcoming the change in personnel in 2013. He has two World Road Race gold medals, representing the USA.
Louison Bobet – 3
Bobet, born in 1925, won the Tour de France in three consecutive years: 1953, 1954, 1955, the first rider to accomplish such a feat, and is considered as the first great French rider of the post World War II era. He also has a gold medal for France in the 1954 world championships.
Philippe Thys – 3
The Belgian rider was the first to win the Tour de France three times, a record he held or shared until 1963. Many agree that if it wasn’t for World War I, by the time he won his third in 1920, he would be celebrating his fifth or sixth tour championship.
Miguel Indurain – 5
Despite allegations and some very solid assumptions, Indurain has never been banned or given a positive test for any sports-enhancing drug. He won the Tour five times in a row (1991-1995), also winning a gold medal in the 1996 Olympics and the 1995 World Championships. He has two Giro d’Italia championships as well (1992, 1993), making him one of seven people to achieve the Giro-Tour double in the same season.
Bernard Hinault – 5
The French legend out of Yffiniac in Brittany won the Tour five times (1978, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1985) and is one of only six cyclists to have won all three Grand Tours, and one of two cyclists to have won each more than once. He has three championships of the Giro d’Italia (1980, 1982, 1985) and two of the Vuelta a Espana, winning it in 1978 and 1983. He also has a road race gold medal in the world championships.
Eddy Merckx – 5
Nicknamed the Cannibal for his competitiveness, Merckx dominated cycling in the first half of the 1970’s, winning the Tour de France in 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972 and 1974, the Giro d’Italia in 1968, 1970, 1972, 1973 and 1974, and also one Vuelta a Espana in 1973. He won four gold medals for Belgium in in the World Championships, three of them in professional road race. He is one of only three riders to have won all five ‘Monuments of Cycling‘ (Milan–San Remo, Tour of Flanders, Paris–Roubaix, Liège–Bastogne–Liège, and the Giro di Lombardia).
Jacques Anquetil – 5
Monsieur Chrono was famous for his ability to ride alone against the clock in individual time trial stages, but also for never hiding that he took drugs, arguing that professional riders were workers and had the same right to treat their pains, as say, a geography teacher. But the argument found less support as more riders were reported to have died or suffered health problems through drug-related incidents, However, his victories were never stripped, making the first ever five-time champion, including four in a row (also the first to do it), including a wire to wire yellow Jersey victory. He won the Tour in 1957, 1961-1964, and also the Vuelta and Giro one time each.