Tadej Pogacar claimed the Giro d’Italia title in 2024 but will not compete in the 2026 edition.
The Giro d’Italia is one of cycling’s three Grand Tours, offering a unique spectacle every year. Over the decades, numerous legendary riders have claimed the pink jersey, along with some surprise winners. This article reviews every champion in the race’s history.
The Giro d’Italia has been part of the cycling calendar since 1909, and the 2026 edition will be the 109th running. The event has seen both iconic cyclists and unexpected victors top the podium.
For the upcoming edition, **Jonas Vingegaard** is the clear favorite, as he has never won the Giro before. The last nine winners were all first-time champions, and with the three most recent winners absent—due to retirement or personal decisions—everything points to a new name being added to the list.
Jonas Vingegaard is the top favorite to win the 2026 Giro d’Italia.
Below is the complete list of previous Giro d’Italia general classification winners, along with notable statistics.
**Roll of Honour: Giro d’Italia General Classification Winners**
(Year, Winner, Team, Margin of Victory)
2025 – Simon Yates – Team Visma | Lease a Bike – 3′ 56″
2024 – Tadej Pogačar – UAE Team Emirates – 9′ 56″
2023 – Primož Roglič – Jumbo–Visma – 14″
2022 – Jai Hindley – Bora–Hansgrohe – 1′ 18″
2021 – Egan Bernal – Ineos Grenadiers – 1′ 29″
2020 – Tao Geoghegan Hart – Ineos Grenadiers – 39″
2019 – Richard Carapaz – Movistar Team – 1′ 05″
2018 – Chris Froome – Team Sky – 46″
2017 – Tom Dumoulin – Team Sunweb – 31″
2016 – Vincenzo Nibali – Astana – 52″
2015 – Alberto Contador – Tinkoff–Saxo – 1′ 53″
2014 – Nairo Quintana – Movistar Team – 2′ 58″
2013 – Vincenzo Nibali – Astana – 4′ 43″
2012 – Ryder Hesjedal – Garmin–Barracuda – 16″
2011 – Michele Scarponi – Lampre–ISD – 46″
2010 – Ivan Basso – Liquigas–Doimo – 1′ 51″
2009 – Denis Menchov – Rabobank – 41″
2008 – Alberto Contador – Astana – 1′ 57″
2007 – Danilo Di Luca – Liquigas – 1′ 55″
2006 – Ivan Basso – Team CSC – 9′ 18″
2005 – Paolo Savoldelli – Discovery Channel – 28″
2004 – Damiano Cunego – Saeco Macchine per Caffè – 2′ 02″
2003 – Gilberto Simoni – Saeco Macchine per Caffè – 7′ 06″
2002 – Paolo Savoldelli – Index–Alexia Alluminio – 1′ 41″
2001 – Gilberto Simoni – Lampre–Daikin – 7′ 31″
2000 – Stefano Garzelli – Mercatone Uno–Albacom – 1′ 27″
1999 – Ivan Gotti – Team Polti – 3′ 35″
1998 – Marco Pantani – Mercatone Uno–Bianchi – 1′ 33″
1997 – Ivan Gotti – Saeco Estro – 1′ 27″
1996 – Pavel Tonkov – Panaria–Vinavil – 2′ 43″
1995 – Tony Rominger – Mapei–GB–Latexco – 4′ 13″
1994 – Evgeni Berzin – Gewiss–Ballan – 2′ 51″
1993 – Miguel Induráin – Banesto – 58″
1992 – Miguel Induráin – Banesto – 5′ 12″
1991 – Franco Chioccioli – Del Tongo–MG Boys – 3′ 48″
1990 – Gianni Bugno – Chateau d’Ax–Salotti – 6′ 33″
1989 – Laurent Fignon – Super U–Raleigh–Fiat – 1′ 15″
1988 – Andrew Hampsten – 7-Eleven–Hoonved – 1′ 43″
1987 – Stephen Roche – Carrera Jeans–Vagabond – 3′ 40″
1986 – Roberto Visentini – Carrera Jeans–Vagabond – 1′ 02″
1985 – Bernard Hinault – La Vie Claire – 1′ 08″
1984 – Francesco Moser – Gis Tuc-Lu – 1′ 03″
1983 – Giuseppe Saronni – Del Tongo–Colnago – 1′ 07″
1982 – Bernard Hinault – Renault–Elf–Gitane – 2′ 35″
1981 – Giovanni Battaglin – Inoxpran – 38″
1980 – Bernard Hinault – Renault–Elf–Gitane – 5′ 43″
1979 – Giuseppe Saronni – Scic–Bottecchia – 2′ 09″
1978 – Johan De Muynck – Bianchi–Faema – 59″
1977 – Michel Pollentier – Flandria–Velda–Latina – 2′ 32″
1976 – Felice Gimondi – Bianchi–Campagnolo – 19″
1975 – Fausto Bertoglio – Jollj Ceramica – 41″
1974 – Eddy Merckx – Molteni – 12″
1973 – Eddy Merckx – Molteni – 7′ 42″
1972 – Eddy Merckx – Molteni – 5′ 30″
1971 – Gösta Pettersson – Ferretti – 2′ 04″
1970 – Eddy Merckx – Faemino–Faema – 3′ 14″
1969 – Felice Gimondi – Salvarani – 3′ 35″
1968 – Eddy Merckx – Faema – 5′ 01″
1967 – Felice Gimondi – Salvarani – 3′ 31″
… *(the list continues with earlier winners; for brevity, the full historical list can be found in official records)*
