Eddy Merckx and the Tour de France

In 1969 Eddy Merckx was 24 years old when he made his debut in the Tour de France.  He had won the Giro d'Italia the year before at 23, but the Tour was the biggest race in the world.  He would go on to win 6 stages in the 1969 tour.  He would win the overall by 17:54, the points jersey and the king of the mountains jersey.  

Here are the time gaps since 1969.  

2020  Tadej Pogacar 0:59

2019  Egan Bernal  1:11

2018  Geraint Thomas 1:51

2017  Chris Froome  0:54

2016  Chris Froome 4:05

2015  Chris Froome 1:12

2014  Vincenzo Nibali 7:37

2013  Chris Froome 4:20

2012  Bradley Wiggins 3:21

2011  Cadel Evans  1:34

2010  Alberto Contador  2:43

2009  Alberto Contador 4:11

2008  Carlos Sastre  0:58

2007  Alberto Contador  0:23

2006  Floyd Landis  3:58

2005  Lance Armstrong  4:40

2004  Lance Armstrong  6:19

2003  Lance Armstrong  1:01

2002  Lance Armstrong  7:17

2001  Lance Armstrong  6:44

2000  Lance Armstrong  6:02

1999  Lance Armstrong  7:37

1998  Marco Pantani  3:21

1997  Jan Ullrich  9:09

1996  Bjarne Riis  1:41

1995  Miguel Indurain  4:35

1994  Miguel Indurain  5:39

1993  Miguel Indurain  4:59

1992  Miguel Indurain  4:35

1991  Miguel Indurain  3:36

1990  Greg Lemond  2:16

1989  Greg Lemond  0:08

1988  Pedro Delgado  7:13

1987  Stephen Roche  0:40

1986  Greg Lemond  3:10

1985  Bernard Hinault  1:42

1984  Laurent Fignon  10:32

1983  Laurent Fignon  4:04

1982  Bernard Hinault  6:21

1981  Bernard Hinault  14:34

1980  Joop Zoetemelk  6:55

1979  Bernard Hinault  13:07

1978  Bernard Hinault  3:56

1977  Bernard Thevenet  0:48

1976  Lucien Van Impe  4:14

1975  Bernard Thevenet  2:47

1974  Eddy Merckx  8:04

1973  Luis Ocana  15:51

1972  Eddy Merckx  10:41

1971  Eddy Merckx  9:51

1970  Eddy Merckx  12:41