Who Is the Best Road Racer of All Time?

Eddy Merckx is widely regarded as the greatest road racer of all time in cycling, thanks to unmatched dominance across Grand Tours and one-day classics. Because “road racer” can refer to multiple sports that compete on roads—cycling, motorcycle racing, marathon running, and even auto racing—the answer depends on the discipline; below is how experts typically assess the greatest in each field.

Why Many Experts Name Eddy Merckx in Cycling

In professional road cycling, the consensus pick is Eddy Merckx. Nicknamed “The Cannibal,” he combined peak dominance with versatility, winning stage races, classics, and world titles at a rate no one has equaled. His record includes an unprecedented sweep of overall, points, and mountains classifications in the 1969 Tour de France, and the sport’s only “Triple Crown” in 1974 (Giro d’Italia, Tour de France, and World Championship road race in the same year).

Below are the core achievements that underpin Merckx’s status among cyclists.

• 11 Grand Tour victories: 5 Tour de France, 5 Giro d’Italia, 1 Vuelta a España.
• Record 19 Monument wins across all five classics (Milan–San Remo, Tour of Flanders, Paris–Roubaix, Liège–Bastogne–Liège, Giro di Lombardia).
• Three World Championship road race titles (1967, 1971, 1974).
• Hour Record set in 1972 (49.431 km), emblematic of his all-round prowess.
• 34 Tour de France stage wins—long the gold standard before Mark Cavendish eclipsed it in 2024 (35).

Taken together—dominance in three-week tours, one-day monuments, and world championships—Merckx’s résumé remains the most complete ever assembled in road cycling.

The Ambiguity of “Road Racer” Across Sports

“Road racing” spans multiple sports, from motorcycles on circuits and closed public roads to marathons and auto racing on street and road courses. The greatest in each discipline can differ because the demands, technology, and competition structures vary widely.

Motorcycle Road Racing

In two-wheeled motorsport, the label splits between Grand Prix/MotoGP (purpose-built circuits and street tracks) and “real roads” competition like the Isle of Man TT. Metrics range from world titles to wins on notoriously dangerous public-road courses.

These are the riders most often cited at the top.

• Giacomo Agostini: 15 world titles and 122 GP wins in the 1960s–70s—a statistical pinnacle.
• Valentino Rossi: 9 world titles (7 in the premier class), 115 GP wins, and unmatched cultural impact in the modern era.
• Marc Márquez: 8 world titles (6 premier), redefining aggressive riding and qualifying speed in the 2010s.
• Isle of Man TT “real roads”: Joey Dunlop long stood as the icon of the TT; Michael Dunlop set the all-time TT wins record in 2024 with 29.

By raw championship totals, Agostini leads; by modern-era influence and longevity, Rossi often gets the nod; for closed-road TT racing, Michael Dunlop now holds the wins record, while Joey Dunlop remains a legend for his bravery and breadth of victories.

Marathon and Distance Running

Road running’s GOAT debate weighs championship medals, world records, and victory consistency in World Marathon Majors. The conversation recently shifted with record-breaking performances and the tragic loss of a rising star.

These are the names most frequently mentioned.

• Eliud Kipchoge: Two Olympic marathon golds (2016, 2020), multiple London and Berlin titles, and the first sub-two-hour marathon in controlled conditions (1:59:40 in 2019); widely viewed as the greatest marathoner despite no longer holding the official world record.
• Kelvin Kiptum: Set the marathon world record at 2:00:35 in Chicago (2023), ratified in 2024; his death in 2024 cut short a career of extraordinary promise.
• Kenenisa Bekele: Track legend with a formidable marathon résumé, often included in all-time distance running debates.

Kipchoge’s sustained excellence and Olympic record typically secure his status as the greatest marathon road racer, even after Kiptum lowered the world record.

Auto Racing on Road Courses

In car racing, “road racer” covers Formula 1, endurance racing, and street circuits. Different scoring systems and eras make cross-comparison imperfect, but a few names dominate GOAT discussions.

Here are the most cited contenders.

• Ayrton Senna: Revered for qualifying brilliance and mastery in wet conditions; 3 F1 titles and an enduring legacy on road and street circuits.
• Michael Schumacher: Era-defining dominance with seven F1 world titles and a revolution in fitness and team-driven performance.
• Lewis Hamilton: Tied for most F1 world titles and holder of the all-time records for Grand Prix wins and poles; exceptional adaptability across technical rule eras.
• Tom Kristensen: The benchmark in road endurance racing with a record nine 24 Hours of Le Mans victories.

F1 debates often hinge on era strength and competition; Hamilton’s career totals set the statistical bar, while Senna symbolizes peak artistry on road and street courses. In endurance, Kristensen’s Le Mans record remains unmatched.

How to Judge “Best” Across Road Disciplines

Comparing across sports benefits from clear criteria, since technology, danger levels, field depth, and race formats differ markedly.

These criteria are commonly used by historians and analysts.

• Dominance and depth: Wins, titles, and performance across varied events or circuits.
• Versatility: Success in different race types (e.g., stage races and classics; street and road circuits; flat and hilly marathons).
• Era strength: Quality and depth of competition, professionalism, and globalization.
• Longevity and consistency: Sustained excellence, durability, and comeback ability.
• Head-to-head markers: Performance against top rivals in decisive races.
• Cultural and technical impact: Influence on tactics, training, safety, and popularity.

Applying these benchmarks helps separate statistical accumulation from transformative greatness and clarifies why different athletes lead in different disciplines.

Verdict

If the question is interpreted in its most common usage—professional road cycling—Eddy Merckx remains the definitive answer. Across all road-based sports, however, there is no single universal GOAT: Giacomo Agostini or Valentino Rossi in MotoGP (with Michael Dunlop now the Isle of Man TT wins leader), Eliud Kipchoge in marathon running, and Lewis Hamilton or Ayrton Senna in F1 (with Tom Kristensen unrivaled at Le Mans) are the standard-bearers in their respective arenas.

Summary

Eddy Merckx is widely recognized as the greatest road racer in cycling history, with unmatched achievements across Grand Tours, Monuments, and world championships. Because “road racer” spans multiple sports, the greatest varies by discipline: Agostini/Rossi in motorcycle GP, Michael Dunlop in TT road racing, Kipchoge in marathons, and Hamilton/Senna (plus Kristensen in endurance) in auto racing. Criteria such as dominance, versatility, era strength, and impact help explain why the answer depends on the sport in question.

Who is the best road cyclist ever?

Eddy Merckx
Rider Rankings

Rank	Name	To
1	Eddy Merckx ( BEL )	1978
2	Alejandro Valverde ( ESP )	2022
3	Sean Kelly ( IRL )	1994
4	Gino Bartali ( ITA )	1954

Who is the king of car racing?

Richard Petty
Richard Petty, known as “The King” of NASCAR, is a legendary figure in American motorsports with a record-setting career that includes 200 NASCAR Cup Series wins and seven championships.

Who is the best motorcycle road racer of all time?

Giacomo Agostini, with 15 victories, has won the most world championships. Ángel Nieto is second with 13 world championships and Valentino Rossi, Mike Hailwood and Carlo Ubbiali are third with 9 world championships.

Who is the greatest racing driver of all time?

There’s no single “best race car driver of all time,” as the title depends on the racing series and individual criteria, but Lewis Hamilton, Michael Schumacher (Formula 1), and Richard Petty (NASCAR) are consistently ranked among the greatest due to their record-breaking wins and championships. Other legendary drivers like Ayrton Senna and Jim Clark are also highly regarded for their exceptional skill and groundbreaking performances.
 
This video explains why Ayrton Senna is considered the greatest Formula 1 driver by some: 58sMotorMouth PodcastYouTube · May 19, 2022
Formula 1 Drivers

• Lewis Hamilton: Opens in new tabHolds the record for the most race wins in Formula 1 history, with 105 victories. 
• Michael Schumacher: Opens in new tabThe second-highest winner in Formula 1 with 91 wins and a previous record holder for the most championships. 
• Ayrton Senna: Opens in new tabThree-time Formula 1 champion known for his exceptional talent, especially in wet conditions, and who left a powerful legacy despite his career being cut short. 
• Jim Clark: Opens in new tabA driver from a previous era who excelled in multiple racing categories and is famous for his record 8 Grand Slams (pole position, leading every lap, and fastest lap). 

NASCAR Drivers

• Richard Petty: Opens in new tabKnown as “The King” in NASCAR, he holds the record for the most Cup Series wins (200) and shares the record for the most championships (seven). 
• Dale Earnhardt Sr.: Opens in new tabNicknamed “The Intimidator,” he was a legendary and feared driver known for his aggressive, “win-at-all-costs” mentality. 

Why there’s no single “best”

• Different eras: Comparing drivers from different time periods is difficult due to significant changes in technology, safety, and the nature of the sport. 
• Varying criteria: Some prioritize raw statistics and championships, while others value factors like skill in different weather conditions, multi-discipline success, or iconic status. 
• Different racing disciplines: Drivers who excel in Formula 1, which is open-wheel racing, are not directly comparable to NASCAR stock car drivers like Richard Petty or Dale Earnhardt Sr.