Who is the last French rider to win the Tour de France?

Bernard Hinault is the last French rider to win the Tour de France, taking his fifth and final title in 1985.

Hinault won the race in 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982 and 1985. His 1985 victory came after a close contest with teammate Greg LeMond, who was expected to support him but was also a serious contender. LeMond helped Hinault secure the overall victory, while Hinault promised to support LeMond in a future Tour.

Hinault’s final triumph extended France’s long tradition of Tour success. Earlier French winners included Jacques Anquetil, Louison Bobet and Raymond Poulidor’s teammate Lucien Aimar. Laurent Fignon came close after Hinault, winning in 1983 and 1984, but he did not win again after narrowly losing the 1989 Tour to Greg LeMond.

The wording “last French rider” refers to the overall Tour winner, not stage victories or classification jerseys. French riders have continued to win individual stages and compete for the polka-dot and other jerseys, but no French cyclist has claimed the yellow jersey in Paris since Hinault’s 1985 victory.