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Echelons during Tour de France 2019

All-Time Cycling Ranking Countdown: 84 to 70

Today I'm releasing the next batch of cycling champions that made it to the all-time top 100. We say hi to the 1988 world champion at no. 84, then we meet the godfather of Flandriens and we skip a visit to a Kazakh rider who didn't always play by the rules. More to follow in the next weeks as we continue our countdown!


Podium ceremony

If you prefer to skip the details behind the rider's points total, you can jump right into the ranking here. But what good is counting down without actually counting points? Don't worry, I did the counting already, but I let you take a look at the rider's achievements below. Only the races on which the King of the Echelon ranking is built, are listed. If you're curious about what these are and what the points schema is, you can find out in this blog post.


Please note this is the status on 31 December 2021. Click on the rider's name for the latest update.


84. Maurizzio FONDRIEST (ITA) - 2275pts

World Championship Road Race

1st (1988)

5th (1993)

Liège-Bastogne-Liège

3rd (1993)

Milano-Sanremo

1st (1993)

2nd (1988, 1995)

Tirreno-Adriatico

1st (1993)

2nd (1995)

Volta a Catalunya

2nd (1993)

Amstel Gold Race

2nd (1991)

Clasica San Sebastian

3rd (1991)

Gent-Wevelgem

2nd (1995)

Flèche Wallonne

1st (1993)

2nd (1995)

3rd (1996)

Paris-Tours

2nd (1993)

3rd (1987, 1990)

Züri Metzgete

1st (1993)

3rd (1994)

Giro dell'Emilia

1st (1993)

2nd (1988, 1989, 1994)

Giro del Lazio

1st (1990, 1994)

2nd (1992)

Giro del Veneto

2nd (1989)

Midi Libre

1 (1993)

Giro d'Italia stage wins

1x (1993)

1x (1995)

The 1988 World Championship in Ronse, Belgium, knew one of the most dramatic finishes ever. The young Maurizzio Fondriest, a classy versatile rider and double World Cup winner, unexpectedly took the world title as Steve Bauer rode local favorite Claude Criquielion into the barriers in the final sprint. Take look at how Criquielion was deprived of a 2nd rainbow jersey and how Maurizzio Fondriest took the gift with both hands. A black page in Belgian cycling.



83. Phil ANDERSON (AUS) - 2275pts

Tour de France

5th (1982, 1985)

Il Lombardia

3rd (1986)

Liège-Bastogne-Liège

2nd (1984)

3rd (1989)

Ronde van Vlaanderen

2nd (1985, 1988)

Critérium du Dauphiné

1st (1985)

Tour de Romandie

1st (1989)

2nd (1983)

Tour de Suisse

1st (1985)

Amstel Gold Race

1st (1983)

Gent-Wevelgem

2nd (1985)

Paris-Tours

1st (1986)

2nd (1990)

Züri Metzgete

1st (1984)

E3 Harelbeke

1st (1985)

2nd (1991)

GP Frankfurt

1st (1984, 1985)

Milano-Torino

1st (1987)

2nd (1988)

Paris-Bruxelles

3rd (1992)

Semana Catalana

1st (1984)

2nd (1985)

Tour de France Points classif.

3rd (1982)

Tour de France stage wins

1x (1982)

1x (1991)

Giro d'Italia stage win

1x (1989)

1x (1990)


82. Gianbattista BARONCHELLI (ITA) - 2276pts

Giro d'Italia

2nd (1974, 1978)

3rd (1977)

5th (1976, 1980, 1982)

World Championship Road Race

2nd (1980)

Il Lombardia

1st (1977, 1986)

Tirreno-Adriatico

3rd (1976)

Tour de Romandie

1st (1977)

2nd (1979)

Vuelta al País Vasco

1st (1976)

Flèche Wallonne

2nd (1978)

Giro dell'Emilia

1st (1980)

Giro del Lazio

1st (1981)

2nd (1980)

Giro del Piemonte

1st (1978, 1980)

3rd (1979)

GP Frankfurt

1st (1980)

Giro d'Italia stage wins

1x (1977)

1x (1978)

1x (1980)

1x (1981)

1x (1986)


81. André DARRIGADE (FRA) - 2313pts

World Championship Road Race

1st (1959)

2nd (1960)

3rd (1957, 1958)

4th (1963)

Milano-Sanremo

3rd (1958)

Il Lombardia

1st (1956)

Paris-Bruxelles

2nd (1960)

4 Jours de Dunkerque

3rd (1958)

Critérium International

1st (1959)

2nd (1961)

Tour de France Points classif.

1st (1959, 1961)

3rd (1958)

Tour de France stage wins

1x (1953)

1x (1955)

1x (1956)

3x (1957)

5x (1958)

2x (1959)

1x (1960)

4x (1961)

1x (1962)

1x (1963)

2x (1964)

Giro d'Italia stage wins

1x (1960)


80. Briek SCHOTTE (BEL) - 2373pts

Tour de France

2nd (1948)

World Championship Road Race

1st (1948, 1950)

4th (1949)

Ronde van Vlaanderen

1st (1942, 1948)

2nd (1944, 1950)

3rd (1940, 1946, 1949, 1952)

Gent-Wevelgem

1st (1950, 1955)

Paris-Tours

1st (1946, 1947)

2nd (1952)

E3 Harelbeke

3rd (1958)

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad

2nd (1956)

3rd (1950)

Parijs-Brussel

1st (1946, 1952)

2nd (1953)

Scheldeprijs

1st (1955)

Tour de France stage wins

1x (1947)

The original Flandrien. Never giving up, always fighting the elements, hardship as fuel for redemption, the relentless suffering on the Flemish cobblestones; "Iron" Briek Schotte embodied the true spirit of the Flandrien.


79. Greg VAN AVERMAET (BEL) - 2434pts

World Championship Road Race

5th (2010, 2014)

Olympic Games Road Race

1st (2016)

Paris-Roubaix

1st (2017)

3rd (2015)

Ronde van Vlaanderen

2nd (2014, 2017)

3rd (2015, 2021)

Tirreno-Adriatico

1st (2016)

Clasica San Sebastian

2nd (2019)

3rd (2011)

Gent-Wevelgem

1st (2017)

3rd (2013)

Paris-Tours

1st (2011)

3rd (2015)

E3 Harelbeke

1st (2017)

3rd (2008, 2018, 2019)

Giro del Piemonte

2nd (2011)

GP Montreal

1st (2016, 2019)

3rd (2018)

GP Québec

2nd (2012, 2016, 2017, 2018)

3rd (2013, 2019)

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad

1st (2016, 2017)

2nd (2014, 2019)

Strade Bianche

2nd (2015, 2017)

Benelux Tour

2nd (2015)

Tour de France stage wins

1x (2015)

1x (2016)


78. Danilo DI LUCA (ITA) - 2460pts

Giro d'Italia

1st (2007)

2nd (2009)

4th (2005)

Il Lombardia

1st (2001)

2nd (1999)

Liège-Bastogne-Liège

1st (2007)

Tirreno-Adriatico

2nd (2002, 2003)

Vuelta al País Vasco

1st (2005)

2nd (2000)

Amstel Gold Race

1st (2005)

3rd (2003, 2007)

Clasica San Sebastian

3rd (2003)

Flèche Wallonne

1st (2005)

2nd (2004)

3rd (2007)

Giro dell'Emilia

1st (2008)

2nd (2006)

Giro del Lazio

3rd (2008)

Giro del Veneto

1st (2002)

2nd (2001)

3rd (2003)

Milano-Torino

1st (2007)

Semana Catalana

2nd (2001)

Giro d'Italia stage wins

1x (2000)

1x (2001)

2x (2005)

2x (2007)


77. Oscar FREIRE (ESP) - 2472pts

World Championship Road Race

1st (1999, 2001, 2004)

3rd (2000)

Milano-Sanremo

1st (2004, 2007, 2010)

3rd (2000)

Tirreno-Adriatico

1st (2005)

2nd (2004)

3rd (2002)

Cyclassics Hamburg

1st (2006)

2nd (2007)

Gent-Wevelgem

1st (2008)

3rd (2007)

Paris-Tours

1st (2010)

2nd (2001)

3rd (2004, 2007)

E3 Harelbeke

2nd (2012)

Paris-Bruxelles

3rd (2012)

Tour de France Points classif.

1st (2008)

Tour de France stage wins

1x (2002)

2x (2006)

1x (2008)


76. Antonin MAGNE (FRA) - 2474pts

Tour de France

1st (1931, 1934)

2nd (1936)

3rd (1930)

World Championship Road Race

1st (1936)

2nd (1933)

Paris-Roubaix

3rd (1930)

Vuelta al Paìs Vasco

2nd (1930)

Paris-Tours

2nd (1933)

Critérium International

3rd (1935)

GP des Nations

1st (1934, 1935, 1936)

Tour de France Mountains classif.

2nd (1933)

Tour de France stage wins

1x (1927)

2x (1928)

1x (1930)

1x (1931)

2x (1934)

1x (1936)

1x (1938)


75. Marino LEJARRETA (ESP) - 2482pts

Tour de France

5th (1989, 1990)

Giro d'Italia

4th (1984, 1987)

5th (1985, 1991)

Vuelta a España

1st (1982)

2nd (1983)

3rd (1991)

5th (1980, 1986)

World Championship Road Race

5th (1982)

Il Lombardia

3rd (1988)

Volta a Catalunya

1st (1980, 1989)

2nd (1990)

3rd (1981, 1988)

Vuelta al País Vasco

3rd (1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1985)

Clasica San Sebastian

1st (1981, 1982, 1987)

2nd (1986)

Giro dell'Emilia

3rd (1985)

GP des Nations

3rd (1987)

Giro d'Italia stage wins

1x (1984)

1x (1991)

Tour de France stage wins

1x (1990)


74. Italo ZILIOLI (ITA) - 2495pts

Giro d'Italia

2nd (1964, 1965, 1966)

3rd (1969)

4th (1968)

5th (1970)

World Championship Road Race

5th (1964)

Paris-Nice

3rd (1965)

Tirreno-Adriatico

1st (1971)

2nd (1968, 1970)

Tour de Suisse

3rd (1964)

Züri Metzgete

1st (1966)

Milano-Torino

2nd (1964, 1968)

3rd (1974)

Giro dell'Emilia

1st (1963)

2nd (1970, 1976)

Giro del Lazio

2nd (1966, 1970)

Giro del Piemonte

1st (1970)

2nd (1963)

Giro del Veneto

1st (1963, 1964)

2nd (1965, 1971)

Semana Catalana

1st (1970)

Giro d'Italia stage wins

1x (1965)

1x (1968)

1x (1969)

1x (1970)

1x (1972)

Tour de France stage wins

1x (1970)


73. Alexander VINOKOUROV (KAZ) - 2499pts

Tour de France

3rd (2003)

5th (2005)

Vuelta a España

1st (2006)

Olympic Games Road Race

1st (2012)

2nd (2000)

Critérium du Dauphiné

1st (1999)

3rd (2011)

Liège-Bastogne-Liège

1st (2005, 2010)

3rd (2004)

Paris-Nice

1st (2002, 2003)

Tirreno-Adriatico

3rd (2007)

Tour de Romandie

3rd (2011)

Tour de Suisse

1st (2003)

Amstel Gold Race

1st (2003)

Clasica San Sebastian

2nd (2010)

World Championship Time Trial

3nd (2004, 2006)

4 Jours de Dunkerque

1st (1998)

Critérium International

3rd (2000)

Midi Libre

2nd (1999)

Tour de France stage wins

1x (2003)

2x (2005)

1x (2010)


72. Hennie KUIPER (NED) - 2605pts

Tour de France

2nd (1977, 1980)

4th (1979)

Vuelta a España

5th (1975, 1983)

World Championship Road Race

1st (1975)

4th (1977)

Il Lombardia

1st (1981)

Milano-Sanremo

1st (1985)

Liège-Bastogne-Liège

2nd (1980)

Paris-Roubaix

1st (1983)

3rd (1979)

Ronde van Vlaanderen

1st (1981)

3rd (1985)

Paris-Nice

2nd (1976)

Tour de Romandie

2nd (1978)

Tour de Suisse

1st (1976)

Amstel Gold Race

3rd (1977)

Paris-Tours

3rd (1977)

Züri Metzgete

2nd (1973)

GP des Nations

3rd (1978)

GP Frankfurt

3rd (1978)

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad

2nd (1976)

Paris-Bruxelles

2nd (1976)

Tour de France Mountains classif.

2nd (1977)

Tour de France stage wins

1x (1976)

1x (1977)

1x (1978)

I often feel Hennie Kuiper does not get the credit he deserved as a rider. The Dutchman is, besides an accomplished rider, a true gentleman. Being very down-to-earth, he was also a doubter and terrible at selling himself. I guess this is one of the reasons he's often overlooked as one of the all-time greats. His achievements speak for themselves, though. Despite being poised to become the next Dutch Tour de France winner, Hennie Kuiper achieved his biggest successes in one-day races, winning the World Championship and 4 out of the 5 Monuments.


In the 1983 Paris-Roubaix he did not have luck on his side, nevertheless, he managed to beat Paris-Roubaix specialists Francesco Moser (triple winner), Gilbert Duclos-Lassalle and Marc Madiot (both double winners). The despair on Hennie's face is an iconic image in the rich history of cycling:


71. Henri PELISSIER (FRA) - 2653pts

Tour de France

1st (1923)

2nd (1914)

Il Lombardia

1st (1911, 1913, 1920)

2nd (1917)

Milano-Sanremo

1st (1912)

2nd (1920)

Paris-Roubaix

1st (1919, 1921)

Vuelta al País Vasco

2nd (1924)

Bordeaux-Paris

1st (1919)

Milano-Torino

1st (1911)

Paris-Tours

1st (1922)

Paris-Bruxelles

1st (1920)

Tour de France stage wins

1x (1913)

3x (1914)

1x (1919)

2x (1920)

3x (1923)


70. Vittorio ADORNI (ITA) - 2690pts

Giro d'Italia

1st (1965)

2nd (1963, 1968)

4th (1964, 1967)

5th (1962)

Vuelta a España

5th (1968)

World Championship Road Race

1st (1968)

2nd (1964)

Milano-Sanremo

2nd (1965)

Liège-Bastogne-Liège

2nd (1965)

3rd (1963, 1964)

Paris-Nice

3rd (1966)

Tour de Romandie

1st (1965, 1967)

2nd (1969)

Tour de Suisse

1st (1969)

Milano-Torino

2nd (1962)

3rd (1967)

Giro d'Italia stage wins

1x (1962)

2x (1963)

2x (1964)

3x (1965)

1x (1966)

1x (1967)

1x (1969)


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