Australian cyclists have ridden in the Tour de France since 1914.[1] In the 1980s, Phil Anderson became the first Australian cyclist to win a stage and wear the yellow jersey. Cadel Evans has been the only Australian cyclist to win the yellow jersey by winning the 2011 Tour de France.
Australian cyclists have competed in the Tour de France since 1914 with Don Kirkham and Iddo Munro being the first representatives.[1][2] Australian participation was sporadic until the 1980s. Two notable Australian riders before the 1980s were Hubert Opperman and Russell Mockridge, a gold medallist from the 1952 Olympic Games.[3]
In the 1980s, Phil Anderson, Allan Peiper and Neil Stephens heralded Australian cyclists increased focus on the Tour.[3] In 1991, the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) established a road cycling program under Head Coach Heiko Salzwedel. This program lead to the development of many future Australian touring cyclists including Robbie McEwen, Patrick Jonker, Michael Rogers and Henk Vogels.[4][5][6] In conjunction with the AIS road cycling team, the AIS track cycling program under the guidance of Charlie Walsh was developing endurance track riders including Stuart O'Grady, Bradley McGee and Brett Lancaster.[7] Cadel Evans who won the Tour in 2011 was an AIS mountain bike scholarship holder in the lead up to the 2000 Sydney Olympics.[8] By 2010, there were 11 Australian cyclists on the Tour.[9] In 2011, Orica–GreenEDGE was launched with financial support from Australian Gerry Ryan and made their debut at the 2013 Tour de France. Cadel Evans became Australia's first and only winner of the Tour in 2011.[1]
In November 2014, Cycling Australia announced its Tour de France Team of the Century to recognize Australia's first participation in the Tour. The team comprised nine riders: Cadel Evans and Phil Anderson (general classification), Richie Porte and Michael Rogers (domestiques), Robbie McEwen (sprinter), Bradley McGee and Mark Renshaw (sprint lead out riders), Simon Gerrans (all rounder) and Hubert Opperman (team captain).[10]
Special Broadcasting Service has broadcast the Tour to Australian television viewers since 1991.[11]
Overall statistics at end of 2023 Tour de France[12][13]
Australian cyclists that have competed in five or more Tour de France as of the 2023 Tour.[12]
Cyclist | Tours | Individual Stage Wins |
Team Time Trial Stage Wins |
Jerseys held | Jerseys won |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Stuart O'Grady | 17 | 2 | 2 | ![]() ![]() |
|
Phil Anderson | 13 | 2 | 0 | ![]() ![]() |
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Robbie McEwen | 12 | 12 | 0 | ![]() ![]() |
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Simon Gerrans | 12 | 2 | 2 | ![]() |
|
Michael Rogers | 11 | 1 | 0 | ||
Richie Porte | 11 | 0 | 1 | ||
Mark Renshaw | 10 | 0 | 0 | ||
Cadel Evans | 9 | 2 | 0 | ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
Luke Durbridge | 9 | 0 | |||
Adam Hansen | 9 | 0 | 0 | ||
Simon Clarke | 8 | 1 | 1 | ||
Neil Stephens | 7 | 1 | 0 | ||
Michael Mathews | 7 | 3 | 0 | ![]() |
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Baden Cooke | 6 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
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Stephen Hodge | 6 | 0 | 0 | ||
Brett Lancaster | 6 | 0 | 1 | ||
Patrick Jonker [n 2] | 5 | 0 | 0 | ||
Bradley McGee | 5 | 2 | 0 | ![]() |
|
Allan Peiper | 5 | 0 | 1 | ![]() |
|
Caleb Ewan | 5 | 5 | 0 |
DNS | Denotes a rider who did not start, followed by the stage before which he withdrew |
DNF | Denotes a rider who did not finish, followed by the stage in which he withdrew |
DSQ | Denotes a rider who was disqualified from the race, followed by the stage before which this occurred |
Table includes dual national Australian cyclists.