The Tour de France is the world’s most famous cycling race — and its heart beats strongest in the high mountains. Every summer, the Alps and Pyrenees become a stage for drama, pain, and glory as riders battle gravity, the elements, and each other on legendary climbs like Alpe d’Huez, Mont Ventoux, and the Col du Tourmalet. Among the hundreds who’ve raced the Tour, a rare few have stood out as true masters of the mountains. These climbers don’t just survive the climbs — they attack, fly, and sometimes break the race wide open with one heroic effort. In this article, we introduce 20 of the greatest climbers in Tour de France history. Whether you’re new to cycling or brushing up on the legends, this list offers a look at the riders who turned steep roads into stages of myth. From fearless attackers to elegant tacticians, they all left their mark high above sea level — where champions are often made.
Marco Pantani
Nicknamed Il Pirata for his bandana and earring, Marco Pantani was a dazzling Italian climber who could explode away from rivals on the steepest slopes. In 1998, he won both the Tour de France and the Giro d’Italia, a rare feat. Pantani’s style was all-out and emotional — fans adored his unpredictable, attacking spirit. Tragically, his career was overshadowed by injury and controversy, but he remains a symbol of passion and pure climbing brilliance.
Richard Virenque
Richard Virenque was the king of the polka dot jersey, winning the Tour’s mountains classification a record seven times. A French fan favorite in the 1990s and early 2000s, Virenque wasn’t always the strongest overall rider but lived for the mountain battles. He thrived on long solo attacks in the Alps and Pyrenees, often riding for glory even if victory wasn’t guaranteed. His panache and drama made him a household name during a turbulent cycling era.
Luis Herrera
Luis “Lucho” Herrera was the first Colombian to win a Tour de France stage (1984) and the first to take the polka dot jersey (1985). Coming from the high mountains of Colombia, he seemed born to climb. Small, light, and incredibly resilient, Herrera opened the door for generations of South American climbers. His stage wins in the high Alps and Pyrenees turned him into a national hero and a key figure in making climbing specialists global stars.
Fausto Coppi
An Italian legend from the 1940s and 50s, Fausto Coppi is often regarded as cycling’s first truly modern climber. He won the Tour de France twice and dominated mountain stages with elegant efficiency. Coppi’s battles with Gino Bartali captured national attention, and his rides over the Col d’Izoard and Galibier became part of Tour mythology. Known as “Il Campionissimo” (Champion of Champions), he combined power, grace, and tactical genius in the high mountains like few before him.
Charly Gaul
From Luxembourg, Charly Gaul earned the nickname “The Angel of the Mountains” for his ethereal climbing and ghostly presence on the bike. He excelled in freezing rain and fog, often leaving rivals minutes behind. His 1958 Tour victory came after a legendary solo ride in terrible conditions. Gaul was quiet, solitary, and deeply focused — a pure climber whose best performances came when the roads got steep and the weather turned harsh. He remains a mythical mountain figure.
Julio Jiménez
Julio Jiménez was one of Spain’s best climbers in the 1960s, winning three Tour de France mountain titles. He was nicknamed “The Watchmaker of Ávila” for his calm demeanor and technical precision on the bike. Jiménez often sparred with giants like Jacques Anquetil and Raymond Poulidor in the mountains, beating them to summit finishes with his punchy style. He helped establish Spain’s reputation for producing world-class climbers long before the modern wave of Spanish stage racers.
Federico Bahamontes
Nicknamed “The Eagle of Toledo,” Federico Bahamontes was the first Spanish rider to win the Tour de France (1959) and remains one of its most legendary climbers. He won the mountains classification six times, dominating the Alps and Pyrenees with ease. Famously, he once stopped at the top of a climb to eat an ice cream while waiting for his rivals — such was his superiority. Bahamontes combined flair, eccentricity, and pure climbing brilliance like no one else of his era.
Lucien Van Impe
Lucien Van Impe is Belgium’s greatest pure climber and one of the most consistent mountain performers in Tour history. He won the mountains classification six times and the yellow jersey in 1976. Van Impe was never flashy but always effective — he would ride to his rhythm, dropping rivals gradually and rarely cracking. His duel with Joop Zoetemelk in the 1976 Tour showcased his tactical climbing skill. Van Impe’s career was built on discipline, patience, and relentless uphill strength.
Eddy Merckx
While not a climbing specialist in the pure sense, Merckx was such a dominant rider that he conquered mountains along with everything else. He won five Tours and took mountain stages through sheer will and strength. Merckx often attacked early in mountain stages and ground his rivals down with sustained effort. He won the mountains classification twice, in 1969 and 1970 — the same years he also won the overall title. Merckx was, quite simply, unstoppable everywhere.
Bernard Hinault
Hinault wasn’t just a climber — he was a force. The last Frenchman to win the Tour (1985), he attacked on mountain stages not only to gain time but to intimidate. Nicknamed “The Badger” for his ferocity, Hinault won mountain stages across multiple Tours and used his climbing strength to defend or take the yellow jersey. His famous ride in the 1980s in a blizzard on the Izoard cemented his toughness. He made climbing look like warfare — and often won.
Alberto Contador
One of the most exciting climbers of the 21st century, Alberto Contador was known for his explosive accelerations and fearless attacks. A three-time Tour de France winner (2007, 2009, 2010*), he was never afraid to take risks on the mountains. Contador’s signature “dancing” style on the pedals made him thrilling to watch, especially on summit finishes. He won stages with long-range solo efforts, often attacking even when it seemed too early. For fans, he embodied pure racing spirit.
Andy Schleck
Elegant and deceptively strong in the mountains, Andy Schleck was one of the top climbers of the late 2000s. He officially won the 2010 Tour de France and finished runner-up three other times. Schleck excelled in the Alps and Pyrenees, often launching graceful, smooth attacks on summit finishes. His battle with Contador on the Tourmalet in 2010 is one of the race’s modern classics. Though his career was shortened by injury, Schleck’s climbing talent was unmistakable.
Thibaut Pinot
Few riders in recent history have connected emotionally with fans the way Thibaut Pinot has. A gifted climber with a poetic style, Pinot won several mountain stages in the Tour, including the famous Col du Tourmalet in 2019. When on form, he could outclimb anyone, often dropping rivals on brutal ascents. His setbacks — especially injury and illness — made his triumphs even more moving. In France, he became a symbol of beautiful, heartbreaking effort in the mountains.
Romain Bardet
Another modern French climber, Bardet is known for his elegant technique and smart mountain tactics. He’s been on the Tour de France podium and has won multiple Alpine stages with well-timed attacks. Bardet doesn’t just follow wheels — he races proactively and takes risks. Whether launching solo moves or defending a GC position, he’s consistently delivered drama and excitement in the high mountains. His intelligence and climbing style make him one of the most respected riders of his generation.
Warren Barguil
Warren Barguil captured the hearts of French fans in 2017 when he won the polka dot jersey and two mountain stages, including a Bastille Day triumph. Barguil is a natural climber, known for his bold solo attacks and emotional racing. He’s not afraid to take long-range chances, even if it means riding alone for hours in the Alps or Pyrenees. His combination of flair and grit has made him one of the most popular French riders in recent years.
Pedro Delgado
Winner of the 1988 Tour de France, Pedro “Perico” Delgado was a brilliant climber who lit up the mountains in the 1980s. His aggressive riding and spontaneous style made him unpredictable and dangerous on any ascent. Delgado was at his best in the high mountains, where his attacking instinct could put minutes into rivals. Although his career had its ups and downs, Delgado’s flair and passion in the climbs made him a favorite among Spanish fans and cycling romantics.
Robert Millar (Philippa York)
Robert Millar, now known as Philippa York, was one of Britain’s finest climbers. They won the mountains classification in 1984 and nearly took the overall title that year. Millar was small, tough, and focused, excelling on long, steep climbs where sheer willpower made the difference. They were a pioneer for British cyclists in the Tour de France and laid the groundwork for the country’s later success. Millar’s Tour performances remain a benchmark for pure climbing excellence.
Joaquim Rodríguez
Nicknamed “Purito”, Joaquim Rodríguez was a punchy Spanish climber who came close to winning Grand Tours multiple times. He wasn’t built for time trials, but when the road went up — especially on steep, short climbs — few could match him. While he never won the Tour, his mountain stage wins and dramatic attacks made him a fan favorite. His style was explosive rather than steady, ideal for summit finishes where he could unleash a devastating final kick.
Gino Bartali
A giant of pre- and post-war cycling, Bartali won the Tour de France twice (1938 and 1948) with unmatched climbing strength. He was known for his ability to grind down opponents on long mountain passes, often riding alone for hours. Bartali’s strength came not just from his legs but from his incredible mental fortitude. He’s also remembered for his heroism off the bike — helping save Jews during WWII. On the climbs, Bartali was relentless, patient, and utterly dominant.
Michael Rasmussen
A controversial but undeniably gifted climber, Denmark’s Michael Rasmussen lit up several Tours with his polka dot jersey-winning performances in the 2000s. He won the mountains classification twice and came close to overall victory in 2007 before being withdrawn by his team. Rasmussen was a pure climber — light, awkward in time trials, but dazzling when the road tilted skyward. Despite his turbulent career, he’s remembered for aggressive, attacking rides in the highest mountains.