As Chris Froome crossed the finish line with his arms aloft at the end of stage five of the 2016 Critérium du Dauphiné he secured his 32nd professional victory.
Froome’s tally of wins now puts him one above fellow British riders David Millar and Malcolm Elliott in terms of professional road race victories. Both of the ex-pros amassed 31 wins during their careers.
>>> Cycling Weekly’s list of all-time British pro winners
Froome’s total also positions him just one victory behind ex-Sky team-mate Sir Bradley Wiggins, who has won 33 professional races.
Mark Cavendish is head-and-shoulders above everyone else on the list of victories by British riders, with an astounding 137 professional wins to date.
Chris Boardman is the second most successful British rider in terms of wins, with 41.
Froome went into the 2016 Dauphiné as defending champion, and after his stage five victory on Friday he took the overall lead from Alberto Contador (Tinkoff). If Froome takes another stage win or takes the overall victory when the race ends on Sunday he will match Wiggins’s number of wins.
Froome also goes into the 2016 Tour de France in July as defending champion and leading contender for the overall victory, which would be his third.
Cycling Weekly’s all-time list of male British pro winners
1. Mark Cavendish – 137 wins (2007 to date)
2. Chris Boardman – 41 wins (1993 to 1999)
3. Bradley Wiggins – 33 wins (2003 to date)
4. Chris Froome – 32 wins (2007 to date)
5.= Malcolm Elliott – 31 wins (1987 to 1995)
5.= David Millar – 31 wins (1997 to 2014)
7. Tom Simpson – 24 wins (1959 to 1967)
8.= Barry Hoban – 21 wins (1964 to 1978)
8.= Michael Wright – 21 wins (1962 to 1973)
8.= Jeremy Hunt – 21 wins (1997 to 2012)
