The Gitane Greg LeMond rode to victory in the 1983 World Championships. His teammate Bernard Hinault won the Tour on a somewhat similar bike the year before.
Photo by User airmailv2 on flickr.com

Tour de France Bicycles, Historical Bike Weights & Technology

Author’s note: I first wrote this article in 2010, but I have updated it every year since.

After swapping my 1992 Cannondale 3.0‘s hodgepodge of Campagnolo components for Shimano Dura-Ace 7700, the bike weighs in at 19.0 pounds with pedals. In this day and age of ultra-light (and über-expensive) vélos bedecked with enough carbon fiber to embarrass a B2 Stealth Bomber, this seems a bit portly and admittedly, she could easily lose another 1.5 lbs. if I cared to spend a few hundred dollars for a lighter wheelset, saddle and handlebar.

But can you believe that my C’dale actually weighs less than the bicycles that Miguel Indurain, Jan Ullrich and Bjarne Riis rode to Tour de France victory in the mid- to late 90s? And every winning Tour bike before that!

Below are some of the bikes ridden to glory in the modern Tour de France era. Bike weights hovered between 18 and 22 pounds from 1968 to 1998, after which they plummeted especially with Lance Armstrong demanding every technological advantage. In the new millenium, Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) imposed a minimum weight requirement of 15.0 pounds (6.8 kilograms) for bicycles raced in international events under their jurisdiction—including the Tour de France—so the lightest bike ever ridden to overall Tour victory may have been Armstrong’s 2003 Trek 5900 SL, rumored to be 14.5 pounds. (That win was later nullified.)

Some other observations are below. [August 11, 2013: Items below that are struck out are due to disqualifications of once-declared victors like Lance Armstrong implicated in doping scandals.]

  • In the last 40 years, a handful of bicycle manufacturers have dominated the race for the yellow jersey: Pinarello (15 as of August 2020), Gitane (with 9 or 12 victories), Peugeot (10), and Trek (10). Read this post for a detailed analysis and controversies regarding which bike company has won the most.
  • TVT (of France) claims to have at least 5 victories spanning from 1986-1991. Their bikes were frequently rebadged as other marques.
  • 1973 was the first time the Tour was won on a titanium bike. Luis Ocana was riding a Speedwell Titalite frameset, although it may have been badged as a Motobecane. (Thanks to Robert Child for this info.)
  • Bernard Hinault was the first cyclist to the Tour win using clipless pedals, in 1985. Stephen Roche was the last to win using toe clips and straps, in 1986.
  • In 1999, Lance Armstrong’s time-trial bike was a Trek-badged titanium Litespeed Blade, which was another time a Tour de France victory (later nullified) was achieved using a titanium bicycle.
  • 1994 was the last time the Tour was won a steel bike—a TIG-welded Pinarello-badged beauty ridden by Miguel Indurain.
  • Indurain and Bjarne Riis rode TIG-welded metal-matrix frames to victory in 1995 and 1996, respectively.
  • Aluminum bicycles were ridden to glory by Jan Ullrich and Marco Pantani in 1997 and 1998, respectively.
  • Ever since Lance Armstrong lead the Tour on a stock Trek OCLV in 1999, every winning bike has been made completely out of carbon fiber except for Oscar Pereiro’s Pinarello Dogma, which had main tubes made out of an AK61 magnesium alloy and rear triangle made out of carbon fiber.
  • In 2000, the UCI instituted a minimum bicycle weight limit of 6.8 kilograms (15.0 pounds). However, James Huang of CyclingNews.com claimed (perhaps mistakenly?) that it only went into effect at the Tour de France in 2004.
  • Nowadays (2020s) it is commonplace for TdF bicycle manufacturers to optimize frame aerodynamics even for non-TT stages. But Trek was doing this even in 2004 with its Madone 5.9, which reportedly saved 10 watts during wind-tunnel testing.
  • Shimano finally had a win in the Tour starting in 1999 2007.
  • For the climbing stages in all seven of Lance Armstrong’s TdF overall first-place finishes, he used a downtube front shift lever to save weight (about 2-3 ounces). Nowadays, combination brake/shift levers (such as SRAM Red) are just as light as a separate downtube and brake lever—and bicycle manufacturers don’t even put braze-ons for downtube levers on their frames anymore. Therefore, 2005 was the last year that downtube levers were used by someone who stepped on the top rung of the podium for the TdF general classification.
  • Alberto Contador’s Trek Madone 5.2 in 2007 was the first* Tour-winning bike with a mountain bike-like sloping top tube. Now almost all modern race bikes have “compact” frames, with the main holdouts being Cannondale and Pinarello.
    *It has been claimed that Marco Pantani’s 1998 bikes had slightly sloping top tubes.
  • SRAM had its first victory in 2009 with Alberto Contador. It won again in 2010 despite Andy Schleck’s infamous chain-drop incident. (He was awarded the TdF victory after Alberto Contador tested positive for clenbuterol.)
  • Cadel Evan was the first TdF winner using electronic shifting (Shimano Di2 on a BMC Teammachine SLR01) in 2011.
  • In the 2010s, two Tour de France winners used ovalized chainrings. Both Bradley Wiggins (2012) and his teammate Chris Froome (the victor in 2013, 2015, 2016, and 2017) employed parts by Osymetric. But while Chris Froome continues to use them in the 2020s, every participant of the 2023 Tour de France used round chainrings.
  • By 2013, all teams were using 11-speed cassettes. Electronic shifting and disc brakes were adopted around this time too.
  • In late 2016, the UCI scrapped its 3:1 rule governing tube shapes. This opened the door for more aerodynamic designs somewhat (it still specifies minimum and maximum tube dimensions).
  • Around 2018, more and more bicycle manufacturers were designing their bicycles with “dropped” seatstays. Supposedly they are more aerodynamic and allow more compliance than traditional seatstays that meet at the junction of the top tube and seat tube.
  • 2020 was when a 12-speed cassette (Campagnolo) was first successfully used for overall TdF victory. (Campagnolo debuted 12-speed in 2018, SRAM in 2019, and Shimano in 2021.)
  • From the early 2000s to roughly 2020, most bicycles used were around the 6.8-kilogram (15.0-pound) UCI weight limit. But then bicycles got heavier due to an increased focus on aerodynamics. Also, most teams were using disc brakes, wider tires, electronic shifting, and power meters. The lightest bicycles were usually the ones reserved for super hilly climbing stages.
  • Tadej Pogačar (2021) was the final overall Tour de France winner to use rim brakes. (The first time someone won a TdF stage using disc brakes was probably Stage 2 of the 2017 edition.)
  • By 2023, most teams had ditched tubulars for tubeless tires. (This was nine years after I had done so myself.)
  • In 2023, Jonas Vingegaard was the first TdF winner to use 1X shifting in select stages.
YearWinning RacerBicycle ManufacturerWeight, lbs. (kg)Notes
1962Jacques AnquetilHelyett22.4 (10.2)[1]
1965Felice GimondiMagni24.2 (11)[1]
1967Roger PingeonPeugeot22.9 (10.4)[1]
1968Jan JanssenLejeune19.1 (8.7)[1]
1972Eddy MerckxEddy Merckx (Colnago)21.1 (9.6)[1]
1973Luis OcañaMotobecane18.7 (8.5)[1]; a titanium Speedwell Titalite frameset
1976Lucien Van ImpeGitane18.3 (8.3)[1]
1977Bernard ThévenetPeugeot22.0 (10.0)[1]
1980Joop ZoetemelkRaleigh22.4 (10.2)[1]
1985Bernard HinaultHinault21.1 (9.6) for time-trial bike[1]
1987Stephen RocheBattaglin21.1 (9.6)[1]
1988Pedro DelgadoPinarello (built by TVT)21.6 (9.8)[1],[6]; carbon-fiber TVT frame
1989Greg LeMondBottechia (built by TVT)?[6]; carbon-fiber TVT frame
1990Greg LeMondLeMond20.0 (9.1) for time-trial bike[1]
1993Miguel IndurainPinarello22.7 (10.3)[1]
1994Miguel IndurainPinarello22.5 (10.2)Frame TIG-welded by Dario Pegoretti from Dedacciai/Oria tubing; 59-cm frame; Campagnolo 8-speed C Record Group
1995Miguel IndurainPinarello Espada17.8 (8.1) for time-trial bike[1]; last to win the TdF on a steel-framed bicycle
1996Bjarne RiisPinarello19.8 (9.0)[1]
1997Jan UllrichPinarello19.8 (9.0)[1]
1998Marco PantaniBianchi; Bianchi Mega Pro XL Reparto Corse (mountain stages)17.8 (8.1); 15.34 (6.96) climbing bike[1]
1999Lance ArmstrongTrek 5500, Trek-badged Litespeed Blade (time trial)?[2]; frameset: 3.9 lbs. (1.750 kg). 1″ head tube, threaded chromoly steerer, 9-speed Dura-Ace; Litespeed Blade was titanium
2000Lance ArmstrongTrek 5500, 5900 (mountain stages) ?[2], [5]; 5500 frameset: 2.8+.9=3.7 lbs. (1.25+.42=1.67 kg), 1-1/8″ head tube, threadless aluminum steerer, 9-speed Dura-Ace; 5900 frame: 2.2 lbs. (1.0 kg) for mountain stages
2001Lance ArmstrongTrek 5900 ?[2]; 9-speed Dura-Ace, still used downtube front shifter for mountains
2002Lance ArmstrongTrek 590018.0 (8.2)[1]
2003Lance ArmstrongTrek Madone 5.9, 5500, 5900 Ultralight (mountain stages)Madone: 15.8 (7.2); 5900: 14.5 (6.6)[1],[2],[5]; 5900 Ultralight frame: 2.2 lbs. (.98 kg)
2004Lance ArmstrongTrek Madone SL, Madone SSL (mountain stages) [3][2],[4],[5]; frameset: 2.4+.7=3.2 lbs. (1.100+.340=1.440 kg)
2005Lance ArmstrongTrek Madone SSLx, TTX (time trial)[3]
2006Oscar PereiroPinarello Dogma-FPX[3]Magnesium AK61 Superlight
2007Alberto ContadorTrek Madone 5.2[3]Shimano Dura Ace; first official win by a Shimano-equipped bicycle.
2008Carlos SastreCervélo R3-SL[3]Shimano Dura Ace; Rotor Q-Ring elliptical chainrings mounted on FSA crankarms
2009Alberto ContadorTrek Madone 6-Series15.0 (6.8)SRAM Red; first win by a SRAM-equipped bike
2010Alberto Contador Andy SchleckSpecialized Tarmac SL3, Roubaix SL3 (cobblestones)[3]SRAM Red
2011Cadel EvansBMC Teammachine SLR01[3]first TdF winner using electronic shifting (Shimano Dura-Ace Di2); Speedplay pedals with short spindles
2012Bradley WigginsPinarello Dogma 65.1 Think 2[3]Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 10-speed; Speedplay pedals; Osymetric oval chainrings
2013Chris FroomePinarello Dogma 65.1 Think 2[3]126mm stem, 40cm bars; 172.5mm Dura-Ace cranks; Osymetric oval chainrings; 23mm Veloflex tubulars
2014Vincenzo NibaliSpecialized Tarmac, Roubaix (cobblestones), Shiv (time trial)[3]Tarmac: Campagnolo Super Record mechanical groupset; FSA carbon fiber handlebars, stem and seatpost; Veloflex Carbon 700X23c tubulars
2015Chris FroomePinarello Dogma F8[3]Shimano Dura-Ace Di2; Osymetric oval chainrings
2016Chris FroomePinarello Dogma F8 XLight[3]Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 9070; Osymetric oval chainrings; Stages power meter
2017Chris FroomePinarello Dogma F10[3]Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 9100 with custom bar-tops switch; Osymetric oval chainrings
2018Geraint ThomasPinarello Dogma F10 XLight[3]Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9170
2019Egan BernalPinarello Dogma F12[3]Shimano Dura-Ace R9100; used Shimano wheels for most stages but Lightweight Meilenstein Obermayer wheels for climbing stages (saved ~400g)
2020Tadej PogačarColnago V3Rs[3]rim-brake model; Campagnolo 12-speed; Colnago’s first TdF victory
2021 Tadej Pogačar Colnago V3Rs[3]disc-brake model for 17 of 21 stages; Campagnolo Super Record EPS
2022Jonas VingegaardCervélo S5, R5 (mountain stages), P5 (time trial)[3]Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9200 12-speed; second TdF victory for Cervélo and first since 2008
2023Jonas VingegaardCervélo S5, R5 (mountain stages), P5 (time trial)[3], 15.9 (7.195) for S5, 15.2 (6.9) estimated for R5Vingegaard’s Jumbo-Visma team switched from Shimano to SRAM Red eTap AXS this year; used 1X for first and last stages

References:

  1. Les Velos Mythiques Vainquers du Tour de France by Yves Blanc and Bruno Bade, as described in the Starbike Weight Weenies Forum.
  2. Lance Armstrong’s Tour de France-winning machines, James Huang, CyclingNews.com, July 2007.
  3. The UCI minimum weight limit of 15.0 lbs. (6.8 kg) was instituted in 2000. (Journalist James Huang, perhaps mistakenly, wrote that it came into effect at the Tour de France in 2004.) It still applies today and includes the weight of non-easily-removed accessories (e.g., pedals, water bottle cages, power meters) that bicycle manufacturers usually do not take into account when they advertise. (Water bottles and cycle computers don’t count.) It can be presumed that Tour de France teams aspire to use bicycles that weigh no more than the UCI limit, particularly for climbing stages. This was easily attainable until roughly 2020, when teams started to priortize aerodynamics, disc brakes, wider tires, tubeless tires, 12-speed cassettes, and electronic shifting, for example.
  4. Other components Armstrong used are described in Wired Magazine, July 2004.
  5. Lance Armstrong’s Tour de France Bikes, Chain Reaction Bicycles, 2001.
  6. From TVT’s letter. Thanks to James Greenlees for sending me it.
Eddy Merckx wearing the world champion colors, probably after winning the World Championship in 1974.
Photo by Ray Dobbins
Eddy Merckx wearing the world champion colors, probably after winning the World Championship in 1974.
Eddy Merckx on his eponymous lugged steel bike in the 1974 Tour de France.
Photo by CanalBlog.com
Eddy Merckx on his eponymous lugged steel bike in the 1974 Tour de France.
For most of his Tour de France victories, Bernard Hinault (second from the left) rode a Gitane.  This postcard is probably from around 1980.
Photo by VeloClassique.com
For most of his Tour de France victories, Bernard Hinault (second from the left) rode a Gitane. This postcard is probably from around 1980.
The Gitane Greg LeMond rode to victory in the 1983 World Championships. His teammate Bernard Hinault won the Tour on a somewhat similar bike the year before.
Photo by User airmailv2 on flickr.com
The Gitane Greg LeMond rode to victory in the 1983 World Championships. His teammate Bernard Hinault won the Tour on a somewhat similar bike the year before.
Greg LeMond wearing the world champion colors on his Gitane in 1983. He won his first Tour in 1986, but not on a Gitane.
Photo by User airmailv2 on GregLemondFan.com
Greg LeMond wearing the world champion colors on his Gitane in 1983. He won his first Tour in 1986, but not on a Gitane.
A letter from TVT claiming that the winning TdF bicycles from 1986-1991 were made by TVT. (Thanks to James Greenlees for sending it to me.)
A letter from TVT claiming that the winning TdF bicycles from 1986-1991 were made by TVT. (Thanks to James Greenlees for sending it to me.)
A letter from TVT claiming the true origins of Pedro Delgado and Greg LeMond's winning 1988 & 1999 Tour de France winning bicycles. (Thanks to James Greenlees for sending it to me.)
A letter from TVT claiming the true origins of Pedro Delgado and Greg LeMond's winning 1988 & 1999 Tour de France winning bicycles. (Thanks to James Greenlees for sending it to me.)
Greg LeMond (USA) 500m from finish at the Superbagneres Stage in the 1989 Tour de France.
Photo by John Pierce; sent by James Greenlees
Greg LeMond (USA) 500m from finish at the Superbagneres Stage in the 1989 Tour de France.
One of Greg LeMond's winning bikes of the 1990 Tour de France.
Photo by BikeCult.com
One of Greg LeMond's winning bikes of the 1990 Tour de France.
Miguel Indurain on his white Pinarello in the Tour de France, probably circa 1995.
Photo by SportsFanaticcoza
Miguel Indurain on his white Pinarello in the Tour de France, probably circa 1995.
Bjarne Riis on his Pinarello in the 1996 Tour de France, which he won.
Photo by The Guardian
Bjarne Riis on his Pinarello in the 1996 Tour de France, which he won.
In 1999, Lance Armstrong won his first Tour de France, which was also the first for Shimano and Trek.
Photo by Chain Reaction Bicycles
In 1999, Lance Armstrong won his first Tour de France, which was also the first for Shimano and Trek.
Lance Armstrong on his Trek 5900 in the 2001 Tour de France.
Photo by Wikimedia
Lance Armstrong on his Trek 5900 in the 2001 Tour de France.
Armstrong cutting across a field with his Trek Madone 5.9 (with aero "shark fin" on the seat tube) shortly after Joseba Beloki crashed in the 2003 Tour de France.  Lance hardly used that bike and seemed to prefer the Trek 5900 SL.
Photo by weblogscltv.com
Armstrong cutting across a field with his Trek Madone 5.9 (with aero "shark fin" on the seat tube) shortly after Joseba Beloki crashed in the 2003 Tour de France. Lance hardly used that bike and seemed to prefer the Trek 5900 SL.
Oscar Pereiro's 2006 Tour de France-winning Pinarello Dogma-FPX.
Photo by User taurus0423 on YouTube
Oscar Pereiro's 2006 Tour de France-winning Pinarello Dogma-FPX.
Alberto Contador's Trek Madone 5.2 for the 2007 Tour de France - the first winning TdF bike with "compact" geometry (sloping top tube).
Photo by Gizmodo
Alberto Contador's Trek Madone 5.2 for the 2007 Tour de France - the first winning TdF bike with "compact" geometry (sloping top tube).
Carlos Sastre on his Cervelo R3-SL en route to victory in the 2008 Tour de France.
Photo by roadbikereview.com
Carlos Sastre on his Cervelo R3-SL en route to victory in the 2008 Tour de France.
Alberto Contador's Trek Madone 6-series in the 2009 Tour de France.  It was the last year he rode a Trek.
Photo by Bike Radar
Alberto Contador's Trek Madone 6-series in the 2009 Tour de France. It was the last year he rode a Trek.
Andy Schleck's custom Specialized S-works Tarmac SL3 in the 2010 Tour de France.
Photo by The Road Diaries
Andy Schleck's custom Specialized S-works Tarmac SL3 in the 2010 Tour de France.
Chris Froome, winner of the 2013 Tour de France, on his yellow Pinarello Dogma 65.1 Think 2.
Photo by Sky Pro Cycling
Chris Froome, winner of the 2013 Tour de France, on his yellow Pinarello Dogma 65.1 Think 2.
Chris Froome's yellow Pinarello Dogma F8, 2015 Tour de France, spectator
Photo by Team Sky
A spectator looks at Chris Froome's yellow Pinarello Dogma F8 during the 2015 Tour de France.
The yellow Colnago V3Rs bike Tadej Pogačar rode into Paris on the final stage of the 2020 Tour de France.
Photo by Colnago
The yellow Colnago V3Rs bike Tadej Pogačar rode into Paris on the final stage of the 2020 Tour de France.
Vincenzo Nibali (in yellow) on a Specialized Tarmac during the final stage of the 2014 Tour de France. Other riders are Rafal Majka (best climber), Thibaut Pinot (best young rider), and Peter Sagan (best sprinter).
Photo by Christophe Ena/AP
Vincenzo Nibali (in yellow) on a Specialized Tarmac during the final stage of the 2014 Tour de France. Other riders are Rafal Majka (best climber), Thibaut Pinot (best young rider), and Peter Sagan (best sprinter).
Vincenzo Nibali on a Specialized Roubaix during the cobble-stoned fifth stage of the 2014 Tour de France.
Photo by Jean-Paul Pelissier/Reuters
Vincenzo Nibali on a Specialized Roubaix during the cobble-stoned fifth stage of the 2014 Tour de France.
Vincenzo Nibali on his Specialized Shiv TT bike during the time trial of the 20th stage of the 2014 Tour de France.
Photo by The Independent
Vincenzo Nibali on his Specialized Shiv TT bike during the time trial of the 20th stage of the 2014 Tour de France.