Who was the first cyclist to win the Tour de France five times?

Jacques Anquetil was the first cyclist to win the Tour de France five times.

The French rider’s first victory came in 1957, and he then won four consecutive Tours from 1961 through 1964. His final triumph made him the first five-time winner of cycling’s most prestigious stage race. The achievement was especially associated with his exceptional individual time-trial ability, which earned him the nickname “Monsieur Chrono.”

Anquetil’s record was later matched by Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, and Miguel Indurain. Those riders are common alternatives in this question because each also won the Tour five times, but none was first to reach that total. Indurain’s five victories were consecutive, from 1991 to 1995.

Anquetil’s wider record was equally notable. He became the first cyclist to win all three Grand Tours after taking the Vuelta a España in 1963; he had already won the Giro d’Italia in 1960 and 1964. He also set the world hour record in 1956, reinforcing his reputation as one of cycling’s great specialists against the clock.