The 2025 Tour de France is underway, with the world’s best cyclists vying for the sport’s highest honor.
Defending champion Tadej Pogačar has thus far lived up to his status as a favorite to repeat, but the Tour de France figures to be a battle to the end. Olympic gold medalist Remco Evenepoel won an early stage. Mathieu van der Poel wore the famous yellow jersey multiple days before Pogačar reclaimed it after Stage 7.
Pogačar is aiming to become just the sixth rider to claim four or more Tour de France crowns, having won in 2020, 2021 and 2024. That would put him well within range to catch (and possibly even overtake) all-time greats like Eddy Merckx and Miguel Induráin. Jonas Vingegaard (twice) and Geraint Thomas (once) are other former Tour de France champions participating in this year’s race.
Here is a breakdown of the Tour de France winners:
Tour de France: Who has the most race wins?
Here is a breakdown of the racers who have won the Tour de France the most times:
- Five: Eddy Merckx (Belgium), Bernard Hinault (France), Miguel Induráin (Spain), Jacques Anquetil (France)
- Four: Chris Froome (United Kingdom)*
- Three: Tadej Pogačar (Slovenia)*, Philippe Thys (Belgium), Louison Bobet (France), Greg LeMond (USA)
- Two: 13 racers have won the Tour de France twice.
- One: 42 racers have won the Tour de France once.
Note: Races marked with an asterisk (*) are still active.
Lance Armstrong won the Tour de France seven consecutive years (1999-2005), but those titles were all stripped due to PED use.
Tour de France jerseys: What does yellow jersey signify?
Much is made at the Tour de France over acquiring specific jerseys beyond each team’s uniform. Normally in sports, you wouldn’t change your colors based on where you are in the standings, but the Tour de France has historically awarded specific jersey colors (or patterns) to the leader in certain categories.
Here’s a breakdown of the four jersey types top riders can collect at the Tour de France:
- Yellow: The overall race leader, accounting for times in every single stage.
- Green: The best sprinter in the Tour, determined via a points system involving stage wins and intermediate sprints within certain stages.
- Polka dot: A white jersey with distinctive red polka dots is given to the ‘King of the Mountains,’ a.k.a. the best performer in climbing sections of the race. Like the green jersey, this is determined by a points system.
- White: The white jersey is for the race leader among riders who are under the age of 26.
Tour de France 2025: How to watch, TV channel, streaming
Every stage of the 2025 Tour de France will stream live on Peacock. Coverage will begin at 6 or 6:30 a.m. ET, depending on the stage.
Additionally, NBC will air live coverage of Stage 20 on July 26, starting at 6 a.m. ET. NBC will broadcast a highlights and analysis show after stages 15, 20, and 21, with coverage in those cases beginning at 2 p.m. ET.
Watch the 2025 Tour de France on Peacock
