The Greatest Rivalries in Cycling: Tour, Giro and Classics
Cycling’s greatest rivalries, from Coppi and Bartali to Pogačar and Vingegaard, across the Tour de France, the Giro and the Classics.
In this post
Bike racing is at its best when two riders can’t stand to lose to each other. These are the rivalries that split nations, filled roadsides and shaped the biggest races in the sport.
Tour de France rivalries
- Coppi vs Bartali: the rivalry that split Italy in two, in the Tour and the Giro.
- Anquetil vs Poulidor: five Tour wins against a rider who never wore yellow.
- Hinault vs LeMond: teammates, a promise and the 1986 Tour.
- Pogačar vs Vingegaard: first and second at every Tour from 2021 to 2025.
The Giro, the Worlds and the Classics
- Moser vs Saronni: Italy’s great rivalry of the late 1970s and 1980s.
- Boonen vs Cancellara: a decade of fights over the cobbles of Flanders and Roubaix.
- Van der Poel vs Van Aert: rivals since they were eight, in cyclo-cross and on the road.
Ride where they raced
Some of these battles were fought on climbs you can ride yourself, like Alpe d’Huez, where Hinault and LeMond crossed the line together in 1986. See all famous Strava climbs, or ride the cobbles with the Flanders and Roubaix sportives.
Ride like it matters
Our Climbs jerseys are drawn from the mountains these riders fought over, and the Classics Midnight Black jersey, in a men’s and women’s cut, keeps the plain look of the old days. Every piece is made to order, with free personalization.
