Instead of the weekly outdoor history and in honor of the Tour de France, I've decided to highlight the previous winners of the premier cycling event.

The race begin in 1903 and was won by Maurice Garin of France. In the early years of the Tour de France was dominated by French and Belgian riders, including multiple winners Eddy Merckx of Belgium and Jacques Anquetil of Frnace. However, no French and Belgian riders have won the race since 1974 and 1983 respectively.

On a personal note, my wish for this year's race is that it concludes without doping allegations and restores a bit of the respect and luster it once held.

1903 Maurice Garin, France
1904 Henri Cornet, France
1905 Louis Trousselier, France
1906 René Pottier, France
1907 Lucien Petit-Breton, France
1908 Lucien Petit-Breton, France
1909 Francois Faber, Luxembourg

1910 Octave Lapize, France
1911 Gustave Garrigou, France
1912 Odile Defraye, Belgium
1913 Philippe Thys, Belgium
1914 Philippe Thys, Belgium
1915-18 Not held
1919 Firmin Lambot, Belgium

1920 Philippe Thys, Belgium
1921 Léon Scieur, Belgium
1922 Firmin Lambot, Belgium
1923 Henri Pelissier, France
1924 Ottavio Bottecchia, Italy
1925 Ottavio Bottecchia, Italy
1926 Lucien Buysse, Belgium
1927 Nicholas Frantz, Luxembourg
1928 Nicholas Frantz, Luxembourg
1929 Maurice Dewaele, Belgium

1930 André Leducq, France
1931 Antonin Magne, France
1932 André Leducq, France
1933 Georges Speicher, France
1934 Antonin Magne, France
1935 Romain Maes, Belgium
1936 Sylvere Maes, Belgium
1937 Roger Lapebie, France
1938 Gino Bartali, Italy
1939 Sylvere Maes, Belgium

1940-45 Not held
1946 Jean Lazarides, France
1947 Jean Robic, France
1948 Gino Bartali, Italy
1949 Fausto Coppi, Italy

1950 Ferdinand Kubler, Switzerland
1951 Hugo Koblet, Switzerland
1952 Fausto Coppi, Italy
1953 Louison Bobet, France
1954 Louison Bobet, France
1955 Louison Bobet, France
1956 Roger Walkowiak, France
1957 Jacques Anquetil, France
1958 Charly Gaul, Luxembourg
1959 Federico Bahamontes, Spain

1960 Gastone Nencini, Italy
1961 Jacques Anquetil, France
1962 Jacques Anquetil, France
1963 Jacques Anquetil, France
1964 Jacques Anquetil, France
1965 Felice Gimondi, Italy
1966 Lucien Aimar, France
1967 Roger Pingeon, France
1968 Jan Janssen, Netherlands
1969 Eddy Merckx, Belgium

1970 Eddy Merckx, Belgium
1971 Eddy Merckx, Belgium
1972 Eddy Merckx, Belgium
1973 Luis Ocana, Spain
1974 Eddy Merckx, Belgium
1975 Bernard Thevenet, France
1976 Lucien van Impe, Belgium
1977 Bernard Thevenet, France
1978 Bernard Hinault, France
1979 Bernard Hinault, France

1980 Joop Zoetemelk, Netherlands
1981 Bernard Hinault, France
1982 Bernard Hinault, France
1983 Laurent Fignon, France
1984 Laurent Fignon, France
1985 Bernard Hinault, France
1986 Greg LeMond, USA
1987 Stephen Roche, Ireland
1988 Pedro Delgado, Spain
1989 Greg LeMond, USA

1990 Greg LeMond, USA
1991 Miguel Induráin, Spain
1992 Miguel Induráin, Spain
1993 Miguel Induráin, Spain
1994 Miguel Induráin, Spain
1995 Miguel Induráin, Spain
1996 Bjarne Riis, Denmark
1997 Jan Ullrich, Germany
1998 Marco Pantani, Italy
1999 Lance Armstrong, USA

2000 Lance Armstrong, USA
2001 Lance Armstrong, USA
2002 Lance Armstrong, USA
2003 Lance Armstrong, USA
2004 Lance Armstrong, USA
2005 Lance Armstrong, USA
2006 Floyd Landis, USA

Source