Ridley in the Tour: 31 stage victories and every leader's jersey
The Tour de France is the biggest cycling race in the world. Throughout this millennium, Ridley has played a prominent role in La Grande Boucle. No fewer than 31 stage victories have been achieved on a Ridley bike. The wearers of all four leader's jerseys (yellow, green, polka dot and white) have all regularly ridden masterpieces from our factory. Our heritage on cycling's biggest stage is, of course, something we are incredibly proud of.
In 2005, Ridley became the bike partner of Davitamon-Lotto. The partnership immediately resulted in numerous successes. Robbie McEwen won three stages in the Giro before repeating that impressive feat in the Tour. These were Ridley's first successes in the Tour de France. The green points jersey proved just out of reach that year. It was eventually won by Thor Hushovd, the powerful Norwegian sprinter who would later build a special connection with Ridley as General Manager of Uno-X.
In 2005, Ridley became the bike partner of Davitamon-Lotto. The partnership immediately resulted in numerous successes. Robbie McEwen won three stages in the Giro before repeating that impressive feat in the Tour. These were Ridley's first successes in the Tour de France. The green points jersey proved just out of reach that year. It was eventually won by Thor Hushovd, the powerful Norwegian sprinter who would later build a special connection with Ridley as General Manager of Uno-X.
Aux Champs-Élysées
Good things come to those who wait. 2006 turned into a vintage year for Lotto and Ridley. Once again, Robbie McEwen won three stages in the Giro and three more in the Tour. That brought his tally to six Tour stage victories, but he was not finished yet. The Australian pocket rocket also managed to capture the green jersey and hold onto it all the way to Paris. On the Champs-Élysées, his star shone beneath the Arc de Triomphe. Riding a special Ridley finished in green accents, he stole the show on the world's most famous avenue. Meanwhile, Cadel Evans finished fourth in the overall classification of the Tour de France. Slowly but surely, the dream of fighting for a place on the final podium with the team began to take shape.
In 2007, McEwen won the opening road stage to Canterbury. Two weeks later, another rider claimed a Tour stage victory on a Ridley for the very first time. The nationality remained the same, however, as Cadel Evans triumphed in the individual time trial in Albi (following the disqualification of Alexandr Vinokourov from the results). In the end, the Aussie fell just 23 agonising seconds short of winning the Tour. A year later, Cadel once again finished second, this time within a minute of the winner. On that occasion, 58 seconds denied him overall victory. With all focus on the yellow jersey, Ridley did not win a stage in 2008, but Evans did spend five days in yellow. Around that time, the Helium was developed especially for him, a bike built to his exact request with one clear instruction: "Build me a bike that can win the Tour de France, but do me one big favour. Get it as close as possible to the 6.8-kilogram limit and if you have to choose: 100 grams of extra weight or less stiffness? Always choose stiffness."
In 2007, McEwen won the opening road stage to Canterbury. Two weeks later, another rider claimed a Tour stage victory on a Ridley for the very first time. The nationality remained the same, however, as Cadel Evans triumphed in the individual time trial in Albi (following the disqualification of Alexandr Vinokourov from the results). In the end, the Aussie fell just 23 agonising seconds short of winning the Tour. A year later, Cadel once again finished second, this time within a minute of the winner. On that occasion, 58 seconds denied him overall victory. With all focus on the yellow jersey, Ridley did not win a stage in 2008, but Evans did spend five days in yellow. Around that time, the Helium was developed especially for him, a bike built to his exact request with one clear instruction: "Build me a bike that can win the Tour de France, but do me one big favour. Get it as close as possible to the 6.8-kilogram limit and if you have to choose: 100 grams of extra weight or less stiffness? Always choose stiffness."
A cult hero from the Netherlands
In 2009, Ridley became the bike partner of Team Katusha, where sprinter Robbie McEwen and his lead-out man Gert Steegmans were reunited with Ridley. Ridley's ninth Tour stage victory came courtesy of Sergei Ivanov, who triumphed in Besançon as the Russian national champion. A year later, Joaquim Rodriguez delivered Ridley's tenth Tour stage victory. Nicknamed 'Purito', the explosive Spaniard claimed victory on the stage to Mende. The Spanish climber would remain a Ridley ambassador for many years afterwards. He also finished sixth in the overall classification. After two successful seasons, the partnership with Katusha came to an end and Ridley became the bike sponsor of the Dutch Vacansoleil team.
The 2011 Tour tells a very special story for this partnership from the Low Countries. It did not produce a stage victory, but the images of Johnny Hoogerland travelled around the world. During the ninth stage to Saint-Flour, he was struck by a race vehicle while riding in the day's decisive breakaway. The Dutchman was launched into the barbed wire and had to continue the race badly injured. He reached the finish line, where he was still honoured as King of the Mountains, although he was much closer to tears than laughter. Ridley provided him with a stunning polka dot bike and for five days he proudly rode it across France. It earned him cult hero status.
The 2011 Tour tells a very special story for this partnership from the Low Countries. It did not produce a stage victory, but the images of Johnny Hoogerland travelled around the world. During the ninth stage to Saint-Flour, he was struck by a race vehicle while riding in the day's decisive breakaway. The Dutchman was launched into the barbed wire and had to continue the race badly injured. He reached the finish line, where he was still honoured as King of the Mountains, although he was much closer to tears than laughter. Ridley provided him with a stunning polka dot bike and for five days he proudly rode it across France. It earned him cult hero status.
First yellow jersey
In 2012, Ridley returned as the bike sponsor of the Lotto team, and the Belgian partnership once again produced many memorable highlights. It was above all the powerful German André Greipel who lived up to his nickname, 'The Gorilla', by stringing together victory after victory. He won three stages in the 2012 Tour, one stage in both the 2013 and 2014 editions, and no fewer than four stages in the 2015 Tour. That memorable run also earned him seven days in the green jersey that season. In 2016, Greipel won his tenth Tour stage on a Ridley (his eleventh overall) on the Champs-Élysées, making him the most successful rider ever aboard our bikes in the Tour de France. As if victory in Paris were not enough, Thomas De Gendt added another unforgettable success that same year by winning atop Chalet Reynard on Mont Ventoux.
This André Greipel era also produced another standout performer for Ridley. In the 2014 Tour, Tony Gallopin won Stage 11 to Oyonnax. Three days earlier, he had experienced one of the greatest moments of his career after a stage through the Vosges. Thanks to a long-range attack, he captured the coveted yellow jersey. Our CEO Jochim Aerts followed the entire story from Belgium and, with the factory closed for the annual summer shutdown, he personally headed to the paint shop to prepare a yellow bike. It was rushed to Mulhouse so that Gallopin could ride through his home country on a yellow Ridley for one day on Quatorze Juillet 2014. It marked Ridley's first yellow jersey, after which it would take another twelve years before history repeated itself.
This André Greipel era also produced another standout performer for Ridley. In the 2014 Tour, Tony Gallopin won Stage 11 to Oyonnax. Three days earlier, he had experienced one of the greatest moments of his career after a stage through the Vosges. Thanks to a long-range attack, he captured the coveted yellow jersey. Our CEO Jochim Aerts followed the entire story from Belgium and, with the factory closed for the annual summer shutdown, he personally headed to the paint shop to prepare a yellow bike. It was rushed to Mulhouse so that Gallopin could ride through his home country on a yellow Ridley for one day on Quatorze Juillet 2014. It marked Ridley's first yellow jersey, after which it would take another twelve years before history repeated itself.
A rider from Limburg in the polka dots
Ridley's tally of Tour stage victories stood at 22 when another Australian sprint star, Caleb Ewan, arrived on Ridley bikes. In the 2019 Tour de France, the pocket sprinter made his Tour debut and immediately repaid that confidence with three stage victories. A year later, he added two more. These were golden years for Ridley in the Tour, as Thomas De Gendt also struck again in 2019 after an epic solo attack to Saint-Étienne, where he held on against all odds. It was also a special Tour for Tim Wellens, as the rider from Limburg spent no fewer than fifteen stages in the polka dot jersey before eventually losing it to Romain Bardet.
The Vikings take over
The most recent chapter in Ridley's Tour story has been written by the Vikings of Uno-X. Led by former rival Thor Hushovd, the team has become synonymous with aggressive racing in France and switched to Belgian bikes from 2025 onwards. The unique partnership paid off immediately, as Jonas Abrahamsen won a fiercely contested stage to Toulouse in 2025. Just one month earlier, the Norwegian had broken his collarbone, but thanks to relentless determination he still made it to the Tour and was rewarded for years of attacking racing. Tobias Halland Johannessen also finished sixth in the overall classification.
2026 could hardly have gone any better, yet somehow it did. During the first week, Torstein Træen claimed the yellow jersey and wore it for two days. The story from 2014 repeated itself: for the occasion, CEO Aerts once again put on his work overalls and gave the yellow jersey holder's Noah Fast a custom yellow paint finish. The bike was eventually auctioned through Vive le Vélo for charity. But the best was yet to come: Søren Wærenskjold – who had already briefly worn the white jersey in 2025 – rode a perfectly judged sprint in Nevers. Aboard his Noah Fast, he secured Ridley's thirtieth Tour de France stage victory. A milestone we are incredibly proud of.
The summer of 2026 became even more unforgettable thanks to the Tour de France Femmes. In Stage 3 from Geneva to Poligny, Sigrid Ytterhus Haugset delivered a breathtaking attack. She claimed victory after an 88-kilometre solo breakaway and also took the yellow jersey. That brings our total to 31 today.
Photos: Photo News
2026 could hardly have gone any better, yet somehow it did. During the first week, Torstein Træen claimed the yellow jersey and wore it for two days. The story from 2014 repeated itself: for the occasion, CEO Aerts once again put on his work overalls and gave the yellow jersey holder's Noah Fast a custom yellow paint finish. The bike was eventually auctioned through Vive le Vélo for charity. But the best was yet to come: Søren Wærenskjold – who had already briefly worn the white jersey in 2025 – rode a perfectly judged sprint in Nevers. Aboard his Noah Fast, he secured Ridley's thirtieth Tour de France stage victory. A milestone we are incredibly proud of.
The summer of 2026 became even more unforgettable thanks to the Tour de France Femmes. In Stage 3 from Geneva to Poligny, Sigrid Ytterhus Haugset delivered a breathtaking attack. She claimed victory after an 88-kilometre solo breakaway and also took the yellow jersey. That brings our total to 31 today.
Photos: Photo News
