The 10 best American cyclists in history: Nairo Quintana, Greg Lemond, Richard Carapaz, Egan Bernal...
Cycling
The American continent includes a few nations that thrive in cycling, and most recently with a big surge from South American countries the list has definitely grown in size and quality. We look at some of the best male riders who have come from western side of the Atlantic.
The list does not include Lance Armstrong; and refers to male cyclists, together with CiclismoAlDia. The USA has had very strong figures in the past and became a country that was completely connected with the Tour de France. But before Lance Armstrong's run of wins, there was another multiple-time winner; and in the recent decade there have been wins in all Grand Tours, World Championships and even Olympic Games.
1. Greg LeMond (United States)
- 3 times Overall Winner of the Tour de France (1990, 1989, 1986)
- 2 times World Champion (1989, 1983)
- 5 times stage winner in the Tour de France (1989, 1986, 1985)
- Overall Winner of the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré (1983)
- 2 times runner-up in the World Championship (1985, 1982)
- 4 times stage winner at the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré (1984, 1983)
- 2 times Overall Winner of the Coors Classic (1985, 1981)
- Overall runner-up in the Tour de France (1985)
- Overall Winner of the Tour DuPont (1992)
- 9 times stage runner-up in the Tour de France (1991, 1990, 1986, 1985)
- Stage winner in the Giro d'Italia (1986)
- Overall winner of the Circuit Cycliste Sarthe - Pays de la Loire (1980)
2. Nairo Quintana (Colombia)
- Overall Winner Vuelta a España (2016)
- Overall Winner Giro d'Italia (2014)
- 2 times Overall Winner Tirreno-Adriatico (2017, 2015).
- 3 times stage winner in Tour de France (2019, 2018, 2013).
- Overall Winner Volta a Catalunya (2016)
- Overall Winner Tour of the Basque Country (2013)
- Overall Winner Tour de Romandie (2016)
- 2 times overall runner-up Tour de France (2015, 2013).
- 2 times Overall Winner Tour de la Provence (2022, 2020)
- 2 times overall winner Vuelta a Burgos (2014, 2013)
- 3 times stage winner in the Giro d'Italia (2017, 2014).
- 2 times stage winner in the Vuelta a España (2019, 2016).
3. Richard Carapaz (Ecuador)
- Overall winner of the Giro d'Italia (2019).
- Olympic Champion Road Race Tokyo (2021)
- Overall Winner of the Tour de Suisse (2021)
- 3 times stage winner in the Giro d'Italia (2019, 2018).
- 3 times stage winner in the Vuelta a España (2022)
- Tour de France Mountain Classification Champion (2024)
- Tour de France stage winner (2024)
- 2 times overall winner of the Tour of Asturias (2019, 2018).
- Vuelta a España Mountain Classification Champion (2022)
- Overall runner-up of the Giro d'Italia (2022)
- Overall runner-up in the Vuelta a España (2020)
- Winner of the Mercan'Tour Classic Alpes-Maritimes (2023)
4. Egan Bernal (Colombia)
- Overall winner of the Tour de France (2019).
- Overall Winner of the Giro d'Italia (2021)
- Overall winner of Paris-Nice (2019).
- Overall winner of the Tour de Suisse (2019).
- Overall Winner Amgen Tour of California (2018).
- 2 times stage winner in the Giro d'Italia (2021)
- Winner of the Gran Piemonte (2019).
- Overall Winner of La Route d'Occitanie - La Dépêche du Midi (2020)
- Overall Winner of the Tour Colombia (2018)
- Overall winner of the Sibiu Cycling Tour (2017).
- 2-time stage winner at the Amgen Tour of California (2018).
- Tour de Suisse stage winner (2019).
5. Rigoberto Urán (Colombia)
- Winner of the Grand Prix Cycliste du Québec (2015).
- 2 times stage winner in the Giro d'Italia (2014, 2013).
- Tour de France stage winner (2017).
- 2 times overall runner-up in the Giro d'Italia (2014, 2013).
- Overall runner-up in the Tour de France (2017).
- Winner of the Milano-Torino (2017).
- Winner of the Gran Piemonte (2012)
- Stage winner in the Vuelta a España (2022)
- 2 times stage winner in the Tour de Suisse (2021, 2007)
- Olympic Games Road Race London Runner-Up (2012)
- Stage winner in the Volta a Catalunya (2012).
- Overall runner-up of the Tour de Suisse (2021)
6. Levi Leipheimer (United States)
- 3-time Amgen Tour of California Overall Winner (2009, 2008, 2007)
- Overall Winner of the Tour de Suisse (2011)
- Overall Winner of the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré (2006)
- Overall Winner of the Deutschland Tour (2005)
- 2 times stage winner in the Vuelta a España (2008)
- 2 times Overall Winner of the Tour of Utah (2011, 2010).
- Overall Winner of La Route du Sud Cycliste - La Dépêche du Midi (2002)
- 6 times stage winner at the Amgen Tour of California (2011, 2009, 2008, 2008, 2007, 2006).
- Overall Winner of the Vuelta a Castilla y León (2009)
- Overall Winner of the USA Pro Challenge (2011)
- Overall Runner-up in the Vuelta a España (2008)
- Overall Winner of the Tour de San Luis (2012)
7. Andrew Hampsten (United States)
- Overall Winner of the Giro d'Italia (1988)
- 2 times Overall Winner of the Tour de Suisse (1987, 1986)
- Overall Winner of the Tour de Romandie (1992)
- 3 times stage winner in the Giro d'Italia (1988, 1985)
- Stage winner in the Tour de France (1992)
- Champion of the Mountain Classification in the Giro d'Italia (1988).
- 2 times stage winner in the Tour de Suisse (1990, 1986)
- Overall Winner of the Tour de Galicia (1993)
- Stage winner at Paris-Nice (1988)
- Winner of the Urkiola Igoera - Urkiola Climb (1989)
- 3 times stage winner at the Coors Classic (1988, 1987)
- Stage winner in the Tour of the Basque Country (1989)
8. George Hincapie (United States)
- Winner of the Gent-Wevelgem (2001)
- Overall Winner of the KBC Driedaagse van De Panne-Koksijde (2004)
- Overall Winner Tour of Missouri (2007)
- Winner of the Commerce Bank Reading Classic (1999)
- Barclay's Global Investors Grand Prix Winner (2001)
- U.S. National Champion (1998)
- Stage winner at the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré (2008)
- Stage winner at the Eneco Tour de Benelux (2006)
- Overall runner-up of the Eneco Tour de Benelux (2006)
- 2 times stage winner in the Tour of Luxembourg (1994)
- Stage winner at the Amgen Tour of California (2008).
- Stage winner in the Setmana Catalana (1997)
9. Steve Bauer (Canada)
- Winner of the Züri Metzgete (1989)
- Stage winner in the Tour de France (1988)
- Winner of the GP des Amériques (1988)
- Overall winner of the Tour de l'Oise (1988)
- 2 times stage winner in the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré (1989, 1988)
- Winner of the Pantalica Trophy (1988)
- 6 times stage winner at the Coors Classic (1985, 1984, 1981)
- 3 times stage winner at the Tour DuPont (1994, 1991)
- Runner-up in the Paris-Roubaix (1990)
- Stage winner in the Tour de Suisse (1988)
- Overall runner-up of the Tour de Suisse (1988)
- Runner-up of the Züri Metzgete (1986)
10. Tejay van Garderen (United States)
- 2 times Overall Winner of the USA Pro Challenge (2014, 2013).
- Overall Winner Amgen Tour of California (2013).
- Stage winner in the Giro d'Italia (2017).
- 2 times stage winner in the Volta a Catalunya (2015, 2014).
- 2 times Overall runner-up of the Critérium du Dauphiné (2019, 2015).
- 4 times stage winner in the USA Pro Challenge (2014, 2013, 2012).
- 2-time stage winner at the Amgen Tour of California (2018, 2013).
- Stage winner at the Tour de Suisse (2016).
- 2 times overall runner-up in the Tour of Oman (2015, 2014).
- Overall runner-up in the Amgen Tour of California (2018).
- 2-time stage winner at the Tour of Utah (2018, 2011).
- 2 times 5th place overall in the Tour de France (2014, 2012).
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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