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!
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.
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 PaÃs 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 PaÃs 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 PaÃs 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 PaÃs 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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