Rough Attempt at an All-Time Ranking

[Pantani_lives]

One day after the Giro di Lombardia it’s time for an update of this ranking. The road season isn’t entirely over yet, but those last few races probably won’t make a difference.

First let’s look at this season. And what a year it was! It’s easy to guess who comes out on top, but who comes next? This is the top 20 of 2024:

1. Pogačar 293
2. Evenepoel 114
3. Roglič 78
4. Van der Poel 73
5. Vingegaard 59
6. Philipsen 57
7. O’Connor 46
8. Hirschi 40
9. Pedersen 37
10. A. Yates 33
11. Ganna 29
12. Jorgenson 28
13. Merlier 27
14. Williams 25
15. Martínez 23
16. Ayuso 22
17. Van Aert 22
18. Bettiol 20
19. Girmay 20
20. Milan 20

Pogačar has the highest score ever in a single season, which seemed impossible in modern cycling. The Big Six are still a reality, with the exception of Van Aert, who had two heavy crashes.

 

[AmRacer]

One day after the Giro di Lombardia it’s time for an update of this ranking. The road season isn’t entirely over yet, but those last few races probably won’t make a difference.

First let’s look at this season. And what a year it was! It’s easy to guess who comes out on top, but who comes next? This is the top 20 of 2024:

1. Pogačar 293
2. Evenepoel 114
3. Roglič 78
4. Van der Poel 73
5. Vingegaard 59
6. Philipsen 57
7. O’Connor 46
8. Hirschi 40
9. Pedersen 37
10. A. Yates 33
11. Ganna 29
12. Jorgenson 28
13. Merlier 27
14. Williams 25
15. Martínez 23
16. Ayuso 22
17. Van Aert 22
18. Bettiol 20
19. Girmay 20
20. Milan 20

Pogačar has the highest score ever in a single season, which seemed impossible in modern cycling. The Big Six are still a reality, with the exception of Van Aert, who had two heavy crashes.

The big one GOAT and the rest.

 

[Peyroteo94]

One day after the Giro di Lombardia it’s time for an update of this ranking. The road season isn’t entirely over yet, but those last few races probably won’t make a difference.

First let’s look at this season. And what a year it was! It’s easy to guess who comes out on top, but who comes next? This is the top 20 of 2024:

1. Pogačar 293
2. Evenepoel 114
3. Roglič 78
4. Van der Poel 73
5. Vingegaard 59
6. Philipsen 57
7. O’Connor 46
8. Hirschi 40
9. Pedersen 37
10. A. Yates 33
11. Ganna 29
12. Jorgenson 28
13. Merlier 27
14. Williams 25
15. Martínez 23
16. Ayuso 22
17. Van Aert 22
18. Bettiol 20
19. Girmay 20
20. Milan 20

Pogačar has the highest score ever in a single season, which seemed impossible in modern cycling. The Big Six are still a reality, with the exception of Van Aert, who had two heavy crashes.

Remco+MVP+Roglic+Vingegaard= 324 points
Pogacar=293

 

[Pantani_lives]

So what does this mean for the all-time ranking? Here are the new positions of the Big Six compared to one year ago:

(21) 8. Tadej Pogačar: He’s entering the pantheon of cycling gods.
(24) 16. Primož Roglič: We now have two Slovenians in the top 20.
(63) 36. Remco Evenepoel: The youngest rider in this list is also having a meteoric rise.
(64) 56. Wout van Aert: In between two rehabilitations he showed his undiminished strength.
(85) 58. Mathieu van der Poel: He would be even higher if CX and gravel biking counted.
(98) 74. Jonas Vingegaard: In spite of his heavy crash he still had a decent season.

Five of the older riders have gained a few more places as well:

(46) 45. Mark Cavendish
(74) 73. Julian Alaphilippe
(105) 101. Geraint Thomas
(130) 115. Richard Carapaz
(173) 164. Rui Costa

There are two new entries in the top 200 this year:

158. Mads Pedersen
191. Filippo Ganna

Jasper Philipsen is likely to make it next year.

Hidden behind spoiler tags this is the new Top 200 of All Time:

Spoiler: Top 200 Male Road Cyclists of All Time

1 | Eddy Merckx | 2027
2 | Bernard Hinault | 1266
3 | Jacques Anquetil | 1075
4 | Fausto Coppi | 1032
5 | Gino Bartali | 1009
6 | Sean Kelly | 958
7 | Alejandro Valverde | 921
8 | Tadej Pogačar | 907
9 | Roger De Vlaeminck | 873
10 | Francesco Moser | 830
11 | Alfredo Binda | 789
12 | Felice Gimondi | 778
13 | Costante Girardengo | 765
14 | Miguel Induráin | 740
15 | Rik Van Looy | 688
16 | Primož Roglič | 685
17 | Joop Zoetemelk | 657
18 | Chris Froome | 656
19 | Fabian Cancellara | 637
20 | Louison Bobet | 621
21 | Alberto Contador | 619
22 | Laurent Jalabert | 619
23 | Tony Rominger | 600
24 | Giuseppe Saronni | 599
25 | Vincenzo Nibali | 594
26 | Freddy Maertens | 594
27 | Tom Boonen | 523
28 | Peter Sagan | 520
29 | Rik Van Steenbergen | 484
30 | Fiorenzo Magni | 475
31 | Learco Guerra | 474
32 | Ferdi Kübler | 473
33 | Philippe Gilbert | 454
34 | Franco Bitossi | 452
35 | Johan Museeuw | 446
36 | Remco Evenepoel | 445
37 | Erik Zabel | 442
38 | Luis Ocaña | 441
39 | Mario Cipollini | 436
40 | Paolo Bettini | 432
41 | Greg LeMond | 429
42 | Raymond Poulidor | 425
43 | Jan Ullrich | 423
44 | Gianni Bugno | 423
45 | Mark Cavendish | 420
46 | Laurent Fignon | 418
47 | Jan Raas | 416
48 | Moreno Argentin | 409
49 | Nairo Quintana | 388
50 | Nicolas Frantz | 385
51 | Alex Zülle | 378
52 | Joaquim Rodríguez | 377
53 | Herman Vanspringel | 369
54 | Oscar Freire | 359
55 | Alexander Vinokourov | 356
56 | Wout van Aert | 351
57 | Charly Gaul | 348
58 | Mathieu van der Poel | 347
59 | Hugo Koblet | 339
60 | Walter Godefroot | 336
61 | Michele Bartoli | 335
62 | Gaetano Belloni | 334
63 | Jan Janssen | 332
64 | Henri Pélissier | 332
65 | Antonin Magne | 331
66 | Charly Mottet | 324
67 | André Leducq | 323
68 | Stephen Roche | 322
69 | Pedro Delgado | 322
70 | Giovanni Brunero | 322
71 | Bernard Thévenet | 317
72 | Claudio Chiappucci | 317
73 | Julian Alaphilippe | 311
74 | Jonas Vingegaard | 309
75 | Cadel Evans | 309
76 | François Faber | 307
77 | Philippe Thys | 305
78 | Vittorio Adorni | 303
79 | Abraham Olano | 303
80 | Rudi Altig | 303
81 | Alessandro Petacchi | 300
82 | Hennie Kuiper | 296
83 | Roberto Heras | 289
84 | Gustave Garrigou | 284
85 | Davide Rebellin | 276
86 | Briek Schotte | 275
87 | Gianbattista Baronchelli | 273
88 | Bradley Wiggins | 269
89 | Fred De Bruyne | 265
90 | Gianni Motta | 264
91 | André Darrigade | 263
92 | Nino Defilippis | 262
93 | Lucien Van Impe | 261
94 | Gilberto Simoni | 258
95 | Phil Anderson | 255
96 | Federico Bahamontes | 254
97 | Marino Lejarreta | 253
98 | Damiano Cunego | 252
99 | Stan Ockers | 249
100 | Tony Martin | 246
101 | Geraint Thomas | 245
102 | Julián Berrendero | 242
103 | Eric Vanderaerden | 242
104 | Marco Pantani | 241
105 | Michał Kwiatkowski | 240
106 | Michel Pollentier | 237
107 | Danilo Di Luca | 234
108 | Rolf Sørensen | 234
109 | Francesco Casagrande | 234
110 | Jean Stablinski | 232
111 | Samuel Sánchez | 231
112 | Pascal Richard | 227
113 | Delio Rodríguez | 226
114 | Raymond Impanis | 224
115 | Richard Carapaz | 223
116 | Greg Van Avermaet | 222
117 | Sylvère Maes | 221
118 | Lucien Petit-Breton | 218
119 | Gastone Nencini | 218
120 | Dietrich Thurau | 218
121 | Alexander Kristoff | 216
122 | Ivan Basso | 211
123 | Octave Lapize | 210
124 | Marcel Kint | 210
125 | Tom Dumoulin | 208
126 | Gerrie Knetemann | 208
127 | Arnaud Démare | 207
128 | Thor Hushovd | 206
129 | Carlos Sastre | 205
130 | Robbie McEwen | 204
131 | Denis Menchov | 203
132 | Stefano Garzelli | 202
133 | Adrie van der Poel | 202
134 | Claude Criquielion | 200
135 | Luis Herrera | 198
136 | Miguel María Lasa | 198
137 | Michele Dancelli | 197
138 | Pavel Tonkov | 196
139 | Ottavio Bottecchia | 195
140 | Giovanni Battaglin | 195
141 | Eddy Planckaert | 195
142 | Giuseppe Olmo | 194
143 | Richard Virenque | 193
144 | Georges Ronsse | 192
145 | Miguel Poblet | 192
146 | José Manuel Fuente | 189
147 | Jean Alavoine | 189
148 | Guido Bontempi | 187
149 | Georges Speicher | 186
150 | Heiri Suter | 185
151 | Maurizio Fondriest | 182
152 | Andy Schleck | 181
153 | Andrei Tchmil | 181
154 | Frans Verbeeck | 181
155 | Mariano Cañardo | 180
156 | Egan Bernal | 177
157 | Filippo Pozzato | 176
158 | Mads Pedersen | 176
159 | Peter Van Petegem | 174
160 | Adolfo Leoni | 174
161 | Carlo Galetti | 172
162 | John Degenkolb | 172
163 | Joaquim Agostinho | 172
164 | Rui Costa | 171
165 | Maurice De Waele | 171
166 | Ercole Baldini | 171
167 | Jakob Fuglsang | 170
168 | Luigi Ganna | 170
169 | Italo Zilioli | 170
170 | Louis Trousselier | 168
171 | Germain Derycke | 168
172 | Frank Vandenbroucke | 168
173 | Erik Breukink | 168
174 | Andreas Klöden | 167
175 | Pasquale Fornara | 166
176 | Roger Pingeon | 164
177 | Roger Lapébie | 164
178 | Franco Balmamion | 164
179 | Tom Simpson | 163
180 | Simon Yates | 163
181 | Jef Planckaert | 163
182 | Tom Steels | 161
183 | Firmin Lambot | 160
184 | Gaston Rebry | 159
185 | Domingo Perurena | 158
186 | Laurent Dufaux | 157
187 | Robert Millar | 156
188 | Ritchie Porte | 156
189 | Andrew Hampsten | 155
190 | Andrea Tafi | 155
191 | Filippo Ganna | 155
192 | Giovanni Valetti | 154
193 | Daniel Martin | 154
194 | Steven Rooks | 154
195 | Eric Leman | 154
196 | Fränk Schleck | 154
197 | Rigoberto Urán | 154
198 | Marino Basso | 153
199 | André Greipel | 153
200 | Paolo Savoldelli | 152

 

[Berniece]

Remco+MVP+Roglic+Vingegaard= 324 points
Pogacar=293

3 of them crashed out 😂

 

[James M]

3 of them crashed out 😂

In one race and only two of em missed a race on their program (liege) lets not pretend we think the outcome of Liege would be any different.

But sure Evenepoel and Roglic would get some points there and most likely Mvdp a bit less fram that then.

 

[Berniece]

In one race and only two of em missed a race on their program (liege) lets not pretend we think the outcome of Liege would be any different.

But sure Evenepoel and Roglic would get some points there and most likely Mvdp a bit less fram that then.

And it influenced other parts of the season

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Wow, Pogi already 8th, only 14 points behind the modern God - Alejandro! He can realistically reach even top3 next year. Primoz is also nicely placed - even top10 by him is possible, depending if he can maintain world class level for 2-3 more years. Remco is definitely on pace to be one of top10 legends in a few years.

 

[Peyroteo94]

3 of them crashed out 😂

It's still impressive.

 

[Gigs_98]

Pogacar more likely than not will be third all time by this time next year. Pogacar will also be 27 years old by this time next year. It's all so absurd.

 

[Berniece]

It's still impressive.

He had a very impressive season

 

[Salvarani]

It's still impressive.

Impressive is an understatement regarding his season tbh.

It is the best season ever and will be hard repeat, even for him.

 

[AmRacer]

UCI has announced this year is the year of the 🐐.
Next year will be the year of the 🐐

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

Contador had more legendary moments, and 9 GTs, all won with panache, many in the face of adversary >>>> Valverde’s longevity and scrappy wins in one day stage races. Contador was the best GT rider hands down multiple years; Valverde was never the best classics rider nor the best GT rider. Ergo, Contador > Valverde.

BUT, this is still a great list and a gift to cycling fans.

 

[Berniece]

Contador had more legendary moments, and 9 GTs, all won with panache, many in the face of adversary >>>> Valverde’s longevity and scrappy wins in one day stage races. Contador was the best GT rider hands down multiple years; Valverde was never the best classics rider nor the best GT rider. Ergo, Contador > Valverde.

BUT, this is still a great list and a gift to cycling fans.

Valverde never the best classics rider? You’ve seen how many times he won LBL?

 

[Salvarani]

Valverde never the best classics rider? You’ve seen how many times he won LBL?

Valverde was a great one-day racer, but I dont think the classics and races I think of is something that define him.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Valverde never the best classics rider? You’ve seen how many times he won LBL?

Yes he was the best hilly classics rider for some years however he never had a remarkable ride in his wins. They are all sprints. Comparing him with Contador is an offense to true cycling fans, for some reason Contador is way more popular than Valverde.

 

[Pantani_lives]

This is the top 20 of the highest scoring seasons, with rider, year and the score between brackets:

1. Pogačar 2024 (293)
2. Merckx 1971 (275)
3. Merckx 1972 (272)
4. Merckx 1970 (268)
5. Merckx 1973 (259)
6. Merckx 1974 (230)
7. Merckx 1969 (227)
8. Coppi 1949 (204)
9. Hinault 1979 (203)
10. Maertens 1976 (196)
11. Maertens 1977 (194)
12. Binda 1927 (183)
13. Hinault 1978 (180)
14. Kelly 1984 (178)
15. Roche 1987 (170)
16. Anquetil 1963 (168)
17. Hinault 1982 (165)
18. Jalabert 1995 (164)
19. Hinault 1981 (163)
20. Pogačar 2021 (162)

 

[Peyroteo94]

This is the top 20 of the highest scoring seasons, with rider, year and the score between brackets:

1. Pogačar 2024 (293)
2. Merckx 1971 (275)
3. Merckx 1972 (272)
4. Merckx 1970 (268)
5. Merckx 1973 (259)
6. Merckx 1974 (230)
7. Merckx 1969 (227)
8. Coppi 1949 (204)
9. Hinault 1979 (203)
10. Maertens 1976 (196)
11. Maertens 1977 (194)
12. Binda 1927 (183)
13. Hinault 1978 (180)
14. Kelly 1984 (178)
15. Roche 1987 (170)
16. Anquetil 1963 (168)
17. Hinault 1982 (165)
18. Jalabert 1995 (164)
19. Hinault 1981 (163)
20. Pogačar 2021 (162)

I thought Pogacar 2023 was higher than Pogacar 2021 even if he hadn't won the Tour.
Interesting.

 

[Roku]

It's absolutely impressive that Merckx managed to land the best six seasons in history until the appearance of Tadej. The fact they were consecutive makes it even more impressive. And it's astonishing that Tadej managed to surpass it by winning 2 GT, 2 monuments and a WC on a highly specialized field.

 

[Berniece]

It's absolutely impressive that Merckx managed to land the best six seasons in history until the appearance of Tadej. The fact they were consecutive makes it even more impressive. And it's astonishing that Tadej managed to surpass it by winning 2 GT, 2 monuments and a WC on a highly specialized field.

Scoring is based on what is a big race now, not on what was a big race back then

 

[scribers]

Scoring is based on what is a big race now, not on what was a big race back then

Please rank what were considered the best races in the Merckx era. Maybe like 10 or 15

 

[Netserk]

Had the Hour Record (track cycling, I know) counted here and awarded as many points as the WCTT, Merckx would still have had the best season of all time.

 

[dercuforever]

Valverde never the best classics rider? You’ve seen how many times he won LBL?

100% Agree, without G2 syndrome, Valverde (and Sagan) would even have a much greater palmares. Very often he was the strongest in a race. Sadly, he never was 20% stronger than the rest (Pogacar'style).

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

Valverde never the best classics rider? You’ve seen how many times he won LBL?

He was a phenomenal classics rider with amazing palmares, no doubt. But in which years would you say he was the best classics rider overall?