One day into Tadej Pogacar’s season, and already the commentators are rolling out the “we’ve run out of superlatives” cliché, having watched the Slovenian ride away with 80km to go at Strade Bianche, surpassing his previous record of 49km on his prior triumph. Whilst Pog’s victory was all the more impressive due to his literal telegraphing of it, given he told the media exactly where he was going to attack, it’s not actually the longest breakaway of modern times.
Massive solo breakaways are limited in their length compared to days of yore thanks to the shrinking length of races, with the record Grand Tour solo breakaway of 253km at the 1947 Tour de France by Albert Bouton a length that hasn’t been raced since 2015 (at the Giro – the Tour hasn’t exceeded 250km since 2000) but that hasn’t stopped riders going from a contemporary version of “far” out. It’s actually noticeable how few of these were “just” for a stage win, given the splattering of classics wins and GC raids, but that doesn’t limit the achievement. Here then, are a list of all the 50+km solo wins I could think of since 2000.
Honourable mentions
Andy Schleck – Tour de France 2011, Stage 18
Often cited as a solo break, Schleck did attack with 60km to go, but within four km he’d joined up with Joost Posthuma, then he linked up with Maxime Monfort down the Izoard, before catching the early break and only going truly solo with 11-10km to go. Sure, it was up the Galibier, but still, not an actual solo break.
Tom Pidcock – Strade Bianche 2023
Another Strade win from afar, Pidcock attacked from 45km out, but caught an earlier break with 40km to go, and only went solo with 20km remaining. Sorry Pidcock fans – he still won though.
Bradley Wiggins – Tour de France 2007, Stage 6
Wiggins had come 4th in the prologue in his hometown of London, and so went looking for more publicity on stage six, ending up riding 190km solo through Northern France. Given it was the anniversary of the death of Tom Simpson, it was speculated this was some form of tribute – although contemporary sources show Wiggins was seemingly unaware of the historical connection and instead insisted it was a “gift” for his wife’s birthday. “Somebody told me after the race, but I never thought about that really. It’s good though,” he said. Wiggins would later claim it was in fact a tribute in one of his many attempts to retcon his career, in a stage that was ultimately won by Tom Boonen.
Tony Martin – Vuelta a Espana 2013, Stage 6
The heartbreak award, beating riders such as Jack Bauer and Martin Elmiger who experienced a similar scenario at the 2014 Tour by being caught with 75m to go after a 222km break, goes to the German Tony Martin, who attacked from the gun of the 175km 6th stage of the 2013 Vuelta. He powered towards the finish with an ever diminishing margin, but seemed capable of throttling up and responding anytime the peloton tried to finally reel in the final few seconds. Ultimately caught on the line, Martin still ended up 7th, and got on the podium as the most combative rider – and set up a pub quiz question for the ages (Michael Morkov, in case you ask)
32. Heinrich Haussler – Tour de France 2009, Stage 13 – 50km
Haussler, then a German, had previously only taken a Grand Tour stage win after a night of boozy partying at the Vuelta, only to win a small group sprint for Gerolsteiner the next day. In 2009, he was going for a third time lucky – pipped at San Remo by Cavendish, and second again to Stijn Devolver at Flanders, the Cervelo rider took off in the rain near his training ground sans gloves to an emotional win. Good job Castelli put that black bit in his shorts mind.
31. Emanuele Sella – Giro d’Italia 2008, Stage 14 – 50km
The first of a mountain triple for the 5’5 Italian, we all thought it was a bit suspicious at the time when he waltzed off to put ProTour riders to the sword with 4, 2 and 1 minute winning margins. It was indeed to good to be true – he tested positive for CERA later that year.
30. Jose Vicente Garcia Acosta – Vuelta a Espana 2002, Stage 19 – 50km
Riding into photographers favourite walled city of Avila, Garcia Acosta, now better known for angrily swearing at his Movistar charges in Netflix’s “The Least Expected Day”, finished off a 50km move to win 2’02 clear of eventual winner Aitor Gonzalez.
29. Gilberto Simoni – Giro d’Italia 2001, Stage 20 – 50km
A mere 15 seconds ahead of Dario Frigo going into the penultimate stage of the race, Simoni used the two laps of the Mottarone to carve out a massive advantage, ending the stage 2’25 ahead of Paolo Savoldelli, and 7’31 clear of second placed Abraham Olano. Frigo hadn’t started after being fired as a result of doping substances being found in his room, although ironically it transpired there wasn’t actually any substance worthwhile in them.
28. Javier Oxtoa – Tour de France 2000, Stage 10 – 50km
Winners on Hautaucam have always been a bit dubious at the Tour (Riis, Armstrong, Leblanc, Cobo…), but Oxtoa seems the exception to the rule, holding off the American in the millennium race to win.
27. Ben Healy – Giro d’Italia 2023, Stage 8 – 50km
The Irishman with a penchant for racing in skinsuits confirmed the talent we’d seen in the Spring Classics with a classy solo in the rain at the 2023 Giro, nearly two minutes clear of people’s champion Derek Gee.
26. Tom Boonen – Paris Roubaix 2012 – 52km
Having watched Fabian Cancellara pull a similar trick in 2010, Boonen went even further out then his Swiss Rival for the final part of his 2012 cobbled quartet to win by 1’39 and become the first rider to achieve the “double-double” of Flanders and Roubaix, having previously won both in 2005.
25. Sergio Higuita – Vuelta a Espana 2019, Stage 18 – 53km
Riding for EF Education, Higuita finished 15 seconds clear of a rampaging Primoz Roglic having gone solo over 30 miles from the finish of this lumpy, four climb stage.
24. Alessandro Covi – Giro d’Italia 2022, Stage 20 – 54km
Taking the stage where Jai Hindley would use the horrible, straight, steep road of the Marmolada to depose Richard Carapaz and prevent the Ecuadorian from joining the two time Giro Winners club, Covi didn’t get a lot of coverage from his attack on the Pordoi, but brought it home for UAE and Italy.
23. Philippe Gilbert – Tour of Flanders 2017 – 56km
Would Gilbert have won this had Peter Sagan and Greg Van Avermaet not managed to crash into one another on the final ascent of the Oude Kwaremont following the Slovakian’s skirting with the barriers? We’ll never know, but having attacked on the Kwaremont himself in the Belgian champion’s tricolore, Gilbert had etched an image into cycling history that wouldn’t be upstaged.
22. Dylan Van Baarle – Dwars door Vlaanderen 2021 – 58km
Rather unfairly nicknamed the Diamond Thief for winning races that his name apparently doesn’t deserve, Van Baarle won Dwars in 202 off the back of a 58km solo break, having only really held 30 seconds lead for most of the race. It was his first one day win since 2017 – his next would be Paris Roubaix the following year.
21. Tony Martin – Tour de France 2014, Stage 9 – 58km
Der Panzerwagen rolled into Mulhouse almost three minutes ahead of another time trial colossus, Fabian Cancellara, in what seemed to symbolise a changing of the guard. Martin had won the last three World Time trial championships (and would add another on 2016), but this was the German at his best.
20. Bob Jungels – Tour de France 2022, Stage 9 – 61km
Bobby J, riding for AG2R, finally got the Tour stage win his talent deserved on a boiling day that saw him utilise his time trialling talents to great effect.
19. Maxim Belkov – Giro d’Italia 2013, Stage 9 – 65km
A wet, cold Giro was good conditions for the Russian Belkov, who yo-yoed with the break before pulling away to win his team’s 2nd stage of the race.
18. Richard Virenque – Tour de France 2004, Stage 11 – 67km
Having given up on chasing overall glory and set his sights on Van Impe and Bahamontes’ record of KOM jerseys, Virenque finally got there in 2004, thanks to this Bastille Day victory which also saw Thomas Voeckler in yellow – a French double of stage win and lead on the national day which has not been repeated since.
17. Michael Rasmussen – Tour de France 2006, Stage 16 – 70km
Rasmussen had given up losing time by this point in his career, but his 70km wasn’t the big race story thanks to Floyd Landis cracking on the road to La Toussuire, with Oscar Pereiro taking the lead. The Dane did manage to depose David de la Fuente from the Polka dot jersey though.
16. Damiano Caruso – Vuelta a Espana 2021, Stage 9 – 71km
Having already finished 2nd at the Giro following a clever break, Caruso was looking to add a Vuelta stage to his winnings in 2021, and battled in the break to ultimately take the KOM lead, and to be the last surviving man from the break by the finish.
15. Michael Rasmussen – Tour de France 2005, Stage 9 – 76km
Another Rasmussen special raid, supposedly designed the day prior when he had “deliberately” lost two minutes in order to free up his King of the Mountains ambitions. Despite being chased by Christophe Moreau and Jens Voigt, who ended the day in 2nd and 1st overall, the already Polka-dotted Rasumssen won the day by three minutes to bolster his lead in the competition.
14. Chris Froome – Giro d’Italia 2018, Stage 19 – 80km
After crashing before the start, slipping out on wet roads, and generally not looking on form albeit punctuated by pipping Simon Yates to victory up the Zoncolan, Chris Froome’s ambitious attempt to hold all three Grand Tours and set up a Giro-Tour double looked to be in vain as he entered stage 19 3’22 behind the nigh on invincible seeming Simon Yates and the Dutch Dynamo Tom Dumoulin. However, a high pace from Kenny Elissonde and the fatigue of three weeks destroyed Yates, who haemorrhaged time, and sent Froome away to an 80km solo over the Finestre that was apparently meticulously planned down to the gel in terms of fueling. By the finish, his gangly frame had pulled himself 40 seconds clear of Dumoulin, who somehow still sat 2nd overall in the race despite the leader having lost 25 minutes.
13. Tadej Pogacar – Strade Bianche 2024 – 81km
“Where will you attack?”
“Santa Maria”
Probably one to go down with “I’m gone, I’m dead” in the history books of Pog quotes, the rest is history – Pogacar did indeed attack on Santa Maria, and nobody could, or felt capable, of following. He won by three minutes despite beaming his way through most of the last kilometre.
12. Lizzie Deignan – Paris Roubaix 2021 – 81km
The inaugural Paris Roubaix femmes saw the victor ride off on the opening cobbled sector, never to be seen again. A muddy weekend saw Lizzie Deignan stuck solo in front of the pack for the entire race, able to pick her lines and avoid the carnage behind. Things got a little tense towards the end as Marianne Vos surged forward and Deignan skidded about on the slick stones, but she still got to the velodrome alone to celebrate.
11. Rafal Majka – Vuelta a Espana 2021, Stage 15 – 87km
Double Tour KOM Majka took the win for UAE after breaking away from former champion Fabio Aru on the Puerto de Pedro Bernado, and survived a chase from Intermarche, who were protecting the lead of Odd Christian Eiking.
10. Michael Boogerd – Tour de France 2002, Stage 16 – 93km
There was once a time when the “Boogie man”, as it is essentially obligatory to call him, was something of a GC long shot, with a 5th place at the 1998 Tour and 10th in 2001 to his name. He was 17th going into the stage to La Plagne in 2002, before jumping five places up the standings after soloing over the Madelaine
9. Tyler Hamilton – Tour de France 2003, Stage 16 – 96km
Having actually been dropped early in the stage, Tyler Hamilton, who had started the day seven minutes off the podium and was riding with a broken collar bone sustained on the opening day of the race (supposedly he needed his teeth recapped after grinding them down through the resulting pain), Hamilton’s 96km excursion over the Col Bargagury gained him two minutes – enough to enable him to eventually move to 4th place overall. Of course, he’d been blood doping, which might explain the somewhat superhuman pain endurance and riding.
8. Constantino Zaballa – Vuelta a Espana 2004, Stage 19 – 105km
When I first played Pro Cycling Manager in 2006, Constantino Zaballa became world champion in the game twice – which seemed perhaps more realistic then given this sort of ride then it has in hindsight. Zaballa had attacked his breakaway companions with 105km at the foot of Alto de Valdelavia and never been seen again. He’d win San Sebastian the year after, but this was his real peak.
7. Annemiek Van Vleuten – World Championship Road Race 2019 – 105km
Having watched Lizzie Deignan try to slay every assault early on, such was her dedication to achieving a result on home soil, Van Vleuten eventually rocketed away on one of Yorkshire’s steep ramps to go solo all the way to the finish with a 2’15 winning margin.
6. Ruben Plaza – Vuelta a Espana 2015, Stage 20 – 105km
Taking the hard road to a Tour-Vuelta stage win double in 2015, Lampre Merida’s Plaza is the answer to the trivia question of who actually won the stage on which Tom Dumoulin cracked out of the Vuelta a Espana lead to 6th overall to the benefit of Fabio Aru. After attacking a ten man group to go alone with 105km to go, Plaza opened up a thirteen minute lead, eventually holding off the combusting remainder of the race by just over a minute.
5. Alvaro Gonzalez de Galdeano – Giro d’Italia 2000, Stage 17 – 114km
A 224km stage that ended in laps around Genoa, Alvaro Gonzalez de Galdeano rode away after 100km for a mountain sprint, but ended up winning despite being chased down by a group including David McKenzie, who had already ridden a 120km solo the same year. His lead was only seven minutes at best, but he still won to give himself a boost in his battle with his brother Igor to have the best palmares (but then Igor has grand Tour podiums to his name)
4. Christophe Agnolutto – Tour de France 2000, Stage 7 – 120km
A win for Ag2R in 2000 came for Agnolutto in what was by far his greatest career result. It was also France’s first solo stage win since 1997 and Didier Rous, and first stage win full stop since 1998. Even more impressive was how Agnolutto had already been in one break that had been caught before he went solo again, presumably to get Ag2R on the telly. It worked out much better in the end.
3. David McKenzie – Giro d’Italia 2000, Stage 7 – 120km
A headline writers dream, David McKenzie of Linda McCartney won a stage after a 120km break, letting the media do their “Macca wins for Linda” routines as the Aussie rolled in four minutes ahead of the next rider. As part of the first British team to ride the Giro, they presumably did a sterling job promoting vegetarianism until the team folded at the end of the following year.
2. Floyd Landis – Tour de France 2006, Stage 17 – 126km
The infamous stage 17 of 2006, following Floyd Landis’s epic collapse the previous day at La Toussuire, is officially in the record books as a Carlos Sastre win now, but at the time, it was the American making headlines worldwide for his absolute demolition of the race as a comeback. Setting his Phonak team to the front pretty much from the off, Landis briedly had company with Sastre, Andreas Kloden, Michael Rogers and Cadel Evans, but within a km he’d smashed away and pulled back eight (eight!) minutes on the breakaway. Whilst he caught the break, he had no help from them, and just burnt off the remaining triumvirate that sat behind him with. He even had time to switch bikes and finally truly solo away at 22km to go.
Of course, he would later be revealed to have flooded his body with some extra red blood cells to achieve his near six minute winning margin, although he claimed the testosterone he actually tested positive for was the result of downing several whiskies. Dick Pound decided he must have been “violating every virgin within 100 miles. How does he even get on his bicycle?”
1. David Zabriske – Vuelta a Espana 2004, Stage 11 – 162km
The third of the dodgy USA triumvirate after Hamilton and Landis to make the top 10, the man they called Captain America takes the crown for the longest solo breakaway to win a stage this millennium. Attacking after 3km of a 165km stage, Zabriske benefited from a crash to build a 20 minute lead, and was uncatchable by the Alessandro Pettachi led pack, who only got him back to 71 seconds in the end. Zabriske, a noted time triallist, had pulled off quite a coup, and this was before he would raise eyebrows by turning up to road races in a skinsuit paired with moustache, but would uktimately lose the victory in light of the USADA “reasoned decision” in 2012.
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