| 1978 | Bernard Hinault |
| 1979 | Bernard Hinault |
| 1980 | Joop Zoetemelk |
| 1981 | Bernard Hinault |
| 1982 | Bernard Hinault |
| 1983 | Laurent Fignon |
| 1984 | Laurent Fignon |
| 1985 | Bernard Hinault |
| 1986 | Greg LeMond |
| 1987 | Stephen Roche |
| 1988 | Pedro Delgado |
| 1989 | Greg LeMond |
| 1990 | Greg LeMond |
| 1991 | Miguel Indurain |
| 1992 | Miguel Indurain |
| 1993 | Miguel Indurain |
| 1994 | Miguel Indurain |
| 1995 | Miguel Indurain |
| 1996 | Bjarne Riis |
| 1997 | Jan Ullrich |
| 1998 | Marco Pantani |
| 1999 | Lance Armstrong |
| 2000 | Lance Armstrong |
| 2001 | Lance Armstrong |