The World of Cycling

Laurent Fignon had a love affair with the climb of La Plagne, victorious on the climb in 1984 to a 2nd consecutive Tour de France win.

La Plagne is an iconic climb of the Tour de France won by Laurent Fignon in 1987, but the drama to follow between Delgado and Roche further enriched the mystic surrounding this climb.

Tadej Pogacar Slovenia won his 3rd Tour de France in 2024 and became only the 3rd rider in history to do the triple crown of the Giro, Tour and World's after Merckx and Roche. Victor in 2020 and 2021. It is difficult to see Pogacar losing the 2025 Tour. #champion

Jonas Vingegaard took victory in the 2022 & 2023 Tour de France, two consecutive Tour wins. Pogacar though on beast form is going to be hard to topple over the last two major mountain stages remaining in the 2025 Tour.

Egan Bernal the first Colombian rider to win the Tour de France in 2019.

Geraint Thomas (Gbr) winner of the 2018 Tour de France.

The great Italian champion Vicenzo Nibali "The Shark of Messina" won the 2014 Tour de France with a display of power and panache.

Chris Froome Great Britain, Kenya or South African citizen? which ever, won the Tour De France on four occasions in 2013, 2015, 2016 & 2017. The big question should Froome have packed it in year's ago, did continuing damaged his reputation?

Bradley Wiggins (Gbr) became the first British winner of the Tour De France in 2012.

Cadel Evans the first Australian winner of the Tour de France in 2011.

Andy Schleck (Lux) was announced winner of the 2010 Tour De France after Alberto Contador was disqualified for a positive test for clenbuterol. Spain's cattle farmers to blame for this....

The very quite and much likeable Carlos Sastre of Spain won the 2008 Tour de France after a brilliant attack on L' Alp Du Huez that secured him the win.

Alberto Contador (Esp) "Il Pistolero" won the Tour De France on two occasions in 2007 & 2009. Disqualified in 2010 for returning a positive test.

Spain's Oscar Pereiro declared winner of the 2006 Tour de France. This after initial winner Floyd Landis of the USA was disqualified for returning a positive test for testosterone. A total of 8 US wins wiped from the record books.

From 1999 to 2005 Lance Armstrong (USA) won the Tour de France 7 consecutive times. Only to be stripped of all his titles in 2012. It is still a huge debate whether it was a fair decision. His followers still regard him as an Tour champion.

Marco Pantani's record on Alp du Huez during the 1995 Tour de France. 1. 36M:40sek Marco Pantani 22.58 km/h. The greatest climber of all time. #Ilpirata

The greatest climber in history Marco Pantani (Ita) won the 1998 Tour de France by destroying Ullrich during stage 15 from Grenoble - Les Deux Alpes.

Jan Ullrich (Ger) " Der Kaizer" won the 1997 Tour de France. What a super talented rider.

Bjarne Riis (Den) became the first Danish rider to win the Tour De France in 1996.

The first Pyrenean Col to be Climbed in the Tour de France, was the Portet d' Aspet in 1910. The Italian Fabio Casertelli tragically passed away after crashing on the Aspet during the 1995 Tour. A very dark and very sad day in Tour history.