If there’s one factor sports activities followers can agree on, it’s the Tour de France. The jewel within the crown {of professional} biking has had followers on the sting of their seat for properly over a century. Let’s face it, the two-wheeled sport isn’t for everybody and could be an acquired style, however when it’s time for Le Tour, the biking world stands nonetheless.
The three,500-kilometer race is a grueling 21-stage check of endurance, psychological toughness, and teamwork. And, after all, each rider desires to be the one to put on the yellow jersey. However not everybody has the expertise, psychological fortitude, and luck to safe victory. Listed below are the riders which have carried out precisely that over the past decade.
2014: Vincenzo Nibali
Vincenzo Nibali grew to become the tenth-ever Italian victor and simply the second since 1965 when he rode to victory in 2014. His victory for the Kazakh group Astana was as spectacular because it was necessary, with the game being dragged by means of the mud by self-confessed drug cheat Lance Armstrong. The now-39-year-old was on the peak of his powers again then, and he managed to showcase his grit, willpower, and expertise, to journey down the Champs-Élysées to victory.
2015 – 2017: Chris Froome
Then got here the reign of Chris Froome. The British bicycle owner had already gained the coveted race again in 2013, changing into the second Brit ever to safe the yellow jersey, one yr on from Sir Bradley Wiggins changing into the primary British winner within the 109-year historical past of the occasion. What’s it that they are saying about London buses?
After Froome crashed out on the cobbles of the Roubaix stage in 2014, and the Kenyan-born begin would use that to gas his fireplace of dominance. He would go on to win three Excursions in a row between 2015 and 2017, cementing his place as one of many biggest cyclists that’s ever lived. Froome’s focus in recent times has been on the Vuelta a España and the Giro d’Italia, however there’s all the time an opportunity he may shake issues up, with a well-liked biking sportsbook pricing him as a +60000 outsider for subsequent yr’s race.
2018: Geraint Thomas
2018 was the yr when Geraint Thomas proved that he’s not only a loyal group participant however a real champion who can declare the final word prize. Regardless of being Froome’s teammate all through his years of dominance, he didn’t again down from the problem when consideration turned to him as group chief. His regular using and unwavering help from his group led him to victory, changing into the fifth Brit in six years to assert the yellow jacket. Enterprise had definitely picked up for these London buses alright.
The Welshman was a well-liked decide to defend his title in 2019 however was finally pressured to withdraw as a result of harm. That opened the door for…
2019: Egan Bernal
…Colombian Egan Bernal, who gained the 2019 yellow jersey on the age of simply twenty-two years previous. His hill climbing is otherworldly and that was on full show four-and-a-half years in the past as he stormed to glory, in his first Tour De France no much less. His victory made him the youngest winner of the coveted race in over a decade.
2020 & 2021: Tadej Pogacar
Pogacar’s win in 2020 was nothing in need of extraordinary, as he clawed again an nearly insurmountable hole from his largest rival, Primoz Roglic. However that wasn’t sufficient as he would efficiently defend his crown the next yr, changing into the twenty second man in historical past to win Le Tour a number of instances. And that second win might properly have been much more spectacular than the primary.
That yr, he managed to overhaul the earlier chief, Primož Roglič, in a surprising upset on the ultimate time trial.
2022 & 2023: Jonas Vingegaard
That’s proper, Vingegaard is the reigning holder of the maillot jaune. And similar to his Slovenian rival, he has managed to efficiently retain his title. And it was his most up-to-date victory in 2023 that was maybe one of many most interesting performances on the winding French roads in historical past.
In 2022, the gifted younger Dane eeked out a victory with loads of help from his teammates. Reigning champion Pogacar was an in depth second, ending simply two minutes and 43 seconds behind. Nevertheless, that hole was stretched all the best way out to seven-and-a-half minutes in 2023, the Vingegaard benefitting from selfless teammates as soon as extra.
He’s the short-priced -135 favourite for glory as soon as extra subsequent yr, together with his biggest rival shortly behind him within the betting odds at +200.
Conclusion
Here’s a abstract of the yellow jacket winners from the earlier ten Excursions de France. As common, none of those riders will certainly win in 2024, however they may all turn into very fashionable. The Tour de France showcases athletes who’re pushing the boundaries of athletics in each method, bringing out the perfect in them. Incomes the yellow jersey requires talent, ardour, and dedication, and it’s a nice accomplishment. Each winner within the final ten years, from Nibali to Pogacar, has irrevocably modified the game.
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