Brits on Tour: every British rider to ride the Tour ... Sponsored by Dan McLay became the 66th British rider to start the Tour de France when the 24-year-old Fortuneo-Vital Concept sprinter rolled out from Mont-Saint-Michel for stage one of the 2016 race. After two Brits – Charles Holland and Bill Burl – went where no British riders had gone before by starting the 1937 Tour de France, it was the British team of 1955 which truly blazed a trail. Since then, there have only been three Tours without a British rider on the startline – in 1976, 2004 and 2005. So which British riders have earned a spot in cycling’s greatest race during its 103 editions? And how did they fare? Here’s the full list – and their Tour highlights.

Brian Robinson, part of the 1955 British Tour de France team and Britain’s first ever Tour stage winner, blazed a trail for the likes of Ben Swift and his Team Sky team-mates to follow (pic: York Council, via Flickr Creative Commons) Related Articles Three Brits in young AnPost-Chain Reaction Cycles line-up for 2017 1930s It was not until 1937, the 31st edition of the Tour de France, that British riders entered the race for the first time, with two Brits in the three-strong British Empire team (Canadian Pierre Gachon was the other rider). Charles Holland (1937) An Olympic team pursuit bronze medallist, Holland was the more successful of the two Brits to enter in 1937, but abandoned after several mechanical issues on stage 14C in the Pyrenees. Bill Burl (1937) London-born Bill Burl’s role in 1937 is remembered less than Holland’s, because he was forced to abandon with a broken collarbone on stage two after colliding with a photographer.

1950s The first British team ever to enter the Tour de France, during a period when it was raced by national teams, did so in 1955. Of the ten-strong line-up, two men finished. In 1958, Brian Robinson became the first British rider to win a stage of the Tour de France. Dave Bedwell (1955) Essex-born Dave Bedwell won four stages of the inaugural Tour of Britain in 1951, and took a further nine in his career; a British champion at amateur, semi-pro, and pro level he abandoned his only Tour de France on stage three. Tony Hoar (1955) One of two Brits to finish the 1955 Tour de France, Hampshire’s Tony Hoar was the lanterne rouge, finishing last in 69th place. Stan Jones (1955) Stan Jones was one of two riders from the Concorde Club to form part of the British team, but missed the time cut on stage seven in the Alps after suffering several punctures.

Fred Krebs (1955) Austrian-born Fred Krebs was a top-ten finisher at the inaugural Tour of Europe and at Liege-Bastogne-Liege, but a knee injury curtailed his only Tour de France. Bob Maitland (1955) The other of two Concorde Club members selected, Bob Maitland was a two-time British hill climb champion and 1948 Olympic silver medallist but abandoned on stage nine after a crash. Ken Mitchell (1955) A nasty saddle sore curtailed Yorkshireman Ken Mitchell’s sole Tour de France, though he did go on to finish runner-up at the Tour of Britain later that year. Bernard Pusey (1955) A Commonwealth Games bronze medallist the previous year, and Tour of Ireland winner, Bernard Pusey abandoned the Tour de France on stage two.

Ian Steel (1955) Scot Ian Steel won the 1951 Tour of Britain and 1952 Peace Race but, as one of the few non-Hercules team riders in the British setup was forced to ride as a domestique in his only Tour de France and abandoned, demoralised, in the mountains. Bevis Wood (1955) Lancastrian Bev Wood enjoyed domestic success in the early 1950s, but abandoned the 1955 Tour de France on stage three. Related Articles Three Brits in young AnPost-Chain Reaction Cycles line-up for 2017 Brian Robinson (1955-1961) The most famous of Britain’s first ever Tour de France team, Yorkshireman Brian Robinson finished the 1955 race in 29th place overall, which earned him professional contracts in Europe and Tour de France berths thereafter with mixed international teams.

Britain’s first ever Tour de France stage winner Brian Robinson with five-time champion Bernard Hinault (pic: SWPix.com) In 1958, he won stage seven of the Tour de France in Brest, after Arigo Padovan was relegated for irregular sprinting, and secured his second Tour stage win with a solo break to Chalon-sur-Saone. Robinson rode seven consecutive Tours in all, finishing five with a best result of 14th in 1956. A podium finisher at Milan-San Remo in 1957, Robinson also won the 1961 Criterium du Dauphine Libere. Stan Brittain (1958, 1960-1961) Twice a podium finisher at the Peace Race, Liverpool-born Stan Brittain rode the Tour de France three times, but only finished once – 66th place in 1958. Ron Coe (1958, 1961) The first ever winner of the professional British national road race, Yorkshireman Ron Coe started two Tours but completed just five stages in 1958 and four in 1961.

John Andrews (1959, 1960) One of the three ‘Nomades du Velo Anglais’, alongside Tony Hewson and Vic Sutton, John Andrews’ pursuit of success in Europe led to two Tour de France starts but he did not finish either. Tony Hewson (1959) A long mechanical delay due to a buckled wheel nearly cost Tony Hewson on the cobbled stage to Roubaix on stage three, but after finishing just inside the time cut he was not so lucky four days later when asked to wait for a team-mate. Victor Sutton (1959, 1960) Praised for his climbing by Fausto Coppi, Vic Sutton finished 37th in the 1959 Tour de France but according to a British coach at the time was unable to really fulfil his potential in Europe. 1960s Brits like Brian Robinson and Vic Sutton raced for mixed international teams in the late 1950s but British teams returned in the 1960s and with great success before the Tour reverted to trade teams only. Britain’s star of the 1960s, of course, was Tom Simpson.

The 1965 world champion became the first Brit to pull on the yellow jersey and his sixth place finish in 1962 remained the best British Tour de France result for two decades. John Kennedy (1960) Glaswegian John Kennedy turned pro in Europe in 1957. His only Tour de France, as part of the British team in 1960, ended in the Pyrenees during stage 12. Harry Reynolds (1960) Birmingham-born Harry Reynolds enjoyed success on British shores, but his only Tour de France ended during the 12th stage. Norman Sheil (1960) Liverpool-born World and Commonwealth track champion Norman Sheil finished second in the Paris-Ezy road race prior to the Tour de France, but abandoned after ten stages of his only Tour. Tom Simpson (1960-1962, 1964-1967) A man whose name will be forever linked to the Tour de France, 1965 world champion Simpson was the first Brit to pull on the yellow jersey and finished sixth overall in 1962 – at that point the best ever British result.

Tom Simpson was the first Brit to wear the yellow jersey (pic: Sirotti) But the Durham-born rider was to lose his life on Mont Ventoux during the 1967 Tour, after taking a combination of alcohol and amphetamines, which proved lethal in the Provence heat. Vin Denson (1961, 1964-1968) Vin Denson led Belgian champion Edward Sels out to four stage wins at the 1964 Tour de France, and won a stage of the 1966 Giro d’Italia, but Simpson’s death had a profound effect on him and he retired two years later. Albert Hitchen (1961, 1967) Multiple successes on British shores, including two national titles, earned him a spot on the British team in 1961 and 1967 but his Tour was very short-lived on both occasions. Ken Laidlaw (1961) Scottish rider Ken Laidlaw earned the combativity prize for his attack on the road to Superbagneres, and finished his only Tour in 65th place.

George O’Brien (1961) Merseysider George O’Brien enjoyed some success in local events, but his only Tour de France ended after three stages, by which point he was last on GC. Peter Ryalls (1961) Sheffield-born rider Peter Ryalls completed just the first three stages of his only Tour de France. Sean Ryan (1961) Only completed the first two stages of his sole Tour de France, but the Yorkshireman did go on to race in France for several years. Alan Ramsbottom (1962, 1963) Lancastrian Alan Ramsbottom rode two Tours in his first two years as a professional rider – his best finish of 16th in 1963 would have been even better, he believes, had he not been riding as a domestique. Barry Hoban (1964, 1967-1975, 1977, 1978) Yorkshireman Barry Hoban won eight Tour de France stages between 1967 and 1975, though his first win was tinged with sadness as it was gifted to the British team the day after Tom Simpson’s death.

Barry Hoban (second right) keeps a close eye on Eddy Merckx. Hoban won eight Tour de France stages (pic: Brian Townsley, via Flickr Creative Commons) In 1969, Hoban became the first Brit to win back-to-back Tour de France stages and still sits second on the all-time list of British stage winners at the Tour – only Mark Cavendish has more. Michael Wright (1964, 1965, 1967-1969, 1972-1974) Finished second on his first ever Tour de France stage. Though born in Hertfordshire his first language was actually French. Nevertheless, his British nationality helped earn him selection to the Tour de France and he won three stages of the race in all, in 1965, 1967 and 1973. Related Articles Three Brits in young AnPost-Chain Reaction Cycles line-up for 2017 Peter Chisman (1967) Won the 1963 Milk Race, having led from start to finish, but his only Tour de France lasted less than three days.

Peter Hill (1967) Finished fifth on stage three of his only Tour de France but abandoned the race two days later. Colin Lewis (1967, 1968) British road race champion in 1967 and 1968, the same two years he rode the Tour de France, Colin Lewis was actually the best-placed British finisher on Mont Ventoux the day of Simpson’s death. Arthur Metcalfe (1967, 1968) Another of the four Brits still in the 1967 race when Simpson died, Arthur Metcalfe finished the 1967 Tour in 69th place overall but did not finish the following year. Robert Addy (1968) Bob Addy’s only Tour de France lasted ten stages before he abandoned the race. John Clarey (1968) Londoner John Clarey won the Bournemouth Three Day in 1968, earning him Tour de France selection, and after coming fifth on stage nine he finished 63rd overall.

Derek Green (1968) Criterium success in Britain led to selection for the 1968 Tour de France, but Derek Green abandoned early in the race. Derek Harrison (1968, 1969) Birmingham-born Derek Harrison rode two Tours, abandoning his first before finishing 32nd overall at his second. Hugh Porter (1968) Hugh Porter finished seventh in the prologue of the 1968 Tour de France but injury forced him to abandon days later – which allowed extra time for him to prepare for the first of four world pursuit gold medals on the track. 1970s Barry Hoban was Britain’s star of the 1970s, but the number of Brits at the Tour de France dwindled. Indeed, the 1976 edition was the first without a British rider since 1955. And only two British riders – Bill Nickson and Paul Sherwen – made their Tour de France debut in the decade. Nevertheless, stage wins from Hoban and Michael Wright ensured a moderate helping of British success.

Bill Nickson (1977) After earning a pro contract with TI-Raleigh thanks to domestic success, Bill Nickson rode his only Tour de France in that same year, 1977, where he abandoned in the Alps. Paul Sherwen (1978-1982, 1984, 1985) Widnes-born Paul Sherwen rode seven Tours during his career, finishing five, and earned plaudits for his six-hour solo chase, over six mountains, at the 1985 Tour de France after crashing which, despite finishing outside the time limit, was rewarded with reinstatement. Sherwen is now best known for his Tour de France commentary with Phil Liggett. 1980s Success returned in 1980s, with Robert Millar becoming the first Brit to win one of the Tour’s classifications when he was crowned King of the Mountains in 1984. Only seven British riders rode the Tour during the decade, however, with the Scot the most successful.

Graham Jones (1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1987) A former Manchester United youth player, Cheadle-born Graham Jones opted for cycling instead and rode the Tour de France five times in all, finishing a career-best 20th in 1981. Robert Millar (1983-1993) Scottish ace Robert Millar was not only the first Brit to be crowned King of the Mountains at the Tour de France, but the first rider from any English-speaking country when he won the polka dot jersey in 1984. Robert Millar rides up Alpe d’Huez in 1984 on his way to being crowned King of the Mountains (pic: Sirotti) His fourth place finish at that year’s Tour proved to be his best, and stood as the best British performance ever at the Tour before Bradley Wiggins’ exploits. Millar won three Tour de France stages in all and also finished second at the 1985 and 1986 editions of the Vuelta a Espana and 1987 Giro d’Italia.

Sean Yates (1984-1995) Rode 12 consecutive Tours – a British record – primarily as a domestique but Sean Yates won a stage in 1988, took the British champion’s jersey all the way to Paris in 1992 and wore the yellow jersey for one day in 1994. Adrian Timmis (1987) British-based team ANC-Halfords received a wildcard to the 1987 Tour de France, and Adrian Timmis was their best-placed finisher in 70th place. Paul Watson (1987) Paul Watson finished sixth at the 1987 La Fleche Wallonne, earning a Tour de France start, but he did not finish his only Tour. Malcolm Elliott (1987, 1988) A stage and points classification winner at the Vuelta a Espana, Malcolm Elliott rode (and finished) two Tours with a best stage finish of third on stage 12 of the 1987 edition.

1990s While the 1990s were a lean decade for British cyclists in Europe in general, there was still at least one Brit in every Tour de France during the decade. Both Chris Boardman and Sean Yates pulled on the yellow jersey in 1994, with the former going on to do so again in 1997 and 1998. Max Sciandri (1990*, 1995-1998) Derby-born Max Sciandri was an Italian national on his Tour debut in 1990, but rode four Tours after taking British citizenship, winning a stage in 1995. Chris Boardman (1994-1999) Chris Boardman won his very first Tour de France stage with a record-breaking prologue in Lille in 1994 to pull on the yellow jersey. Chris Boardman won the prologues of the 1994, 1997 and 1998 Tours (pic: Sirotti) Boardman went onto wear the yellow jersey twice more after winning the opening stages in both 1997 and 1998.

Boardman also crashed out of several Tours, including while wearing the yellow jersey in 1998, leaving him with a career best GC finish of 39th in 1996. Related Articles Three Brits in young AnPost-Chain Reaction Cycles line-up for 2017 2000s British riders started the new millenium with a bang when David Millar won the opening stage of the 2000 race. It couldn’t last of course, and there weren’t any Brits at the 2004 and 2005 editions while Millar was suspended, but the decade ended with British riders – not least Mark Cavendish and Bradley Wiggins – at the forefront. David Millar (2000-2003, 2006-2013) Maltese-born Scot David Millar won a Tour de France stage at the first time of asking on his debut in 2000, a 16.5km time trial in the Futuroscope theme park which saw him pull on the yellow jersey.

He nearly repeated the feat in 2003, missing out to Bradley McGee after his chain dropped in the final 500m after his Cofidis team opted to ride bikes without front derailleurs. David Millar wore all four Tour de France jerseys during his career (pic: Sirotti) A two-year ban for doping halted Millar’s progress, but he pulled on the polka dot jersey in 2007 after a day in the breakaway en route to Cantebury – making him the first Brit to wear all four Tour de France jerseys. Millar, who also became the first Brit to lead all three Grand Tours during a career, won the last of his four Tour de France stages in 2012. Sir Bradley Wiggins (2006, 2007, 2009-2012) Originally better known for his exploits on the track, Bradley Wiggins’ Tour de France breakthrough came in his third Tour, when he finished fourth in 2009 (later retro-respectively upgraded to third, and therefore the first British podium finish).

Bradley Wiggins roars across the finish line of the 2012 time trial stage in Chartres (pic: Sirotti) Wiggins crashed out of the 2011 race, when he was among the favourites, with a broken collar, but roared back in 2012 to become the first ever British Tour de France winner. The race also proved to be his last Tour, making him one of few riders to end their Tour de France career on the Paris podium. Mark Cavendish (2007-2016) The Manx Missile, Mark Cavendish, made his Tour de France debut in 2007, won his first four stages the following year and took 16 stage wins across the next three years when the HTC team were at their very best.

Mark Cavendish pulls on the yellow jersey for the first time in his career after his 27th Tour de France stage win in 2016 (pic: Sirotti) Cavendish became the first Brit to top the points classification when he won the green jersey in 2011 and then realised a career goal of pulling on the yellow jersey after winning stage one of the 2016 race. Victory on stage three of that same race took Cavendish joint-second on the all-time list of Tour stage wins with 28, before he moved cleared of Bernard Hinault with yet another triumph on stage six and clocked win number 30 on stage 14. Charly Wegelius (2007, 2009, 2010) Finnish-born Brit Wegelius was a Giro d’Italia regular, but only rode three times at the Tour de France – earning his best Grand Tour finish of 45th in the 2007 edition.

Geraint Thomas (2007, 2010, 2011, 2013-2016) Geraint Thomas briefly wore the white jersey for best young rider in 2010 and 2011, before returning from 2008 Olympic gold medal success on the track to become an integral part of Team Sky’s squad, helping Chris Froome to two overall titles, while securing his best overall finish to date (15th) at the 2015 race. Chris Froome (2008*, 2012-2016) Though a Kenyan national when he rode his first Tour in 2008, Froome had taken British citizenship by the time he supported Bradley Wiggins in 2012. Second overall that year, Froome also won his first stage and briefly wore the polka dot jersey. Chris Froome celebrates his second Tour de France title with fellow Brit Geraint Thomas in 2015 (pic: Sirotti) In 2013 he was in sublime form, winning three stages – including atop Mont Ventoux – as he sealed his first overall win.

Froome then bounced back from crashing out of the 2014 race by becoming the first Brit to win the race twice with overall victory (and a stage win) in 2015. By also securing the polka dot jersey in the same race, Froome became the first rider since Eddy Merckx to achieve the GC-mountains double at a Tour. Related Articles Three Brits in young AnPost-Chain Reaction Cycles line-up for 2017 2010s The formation of Team Sky in 2010 has ensured Brits are now commonplace at the Tour. Mark Cavendish became the first Brit to win the points classification in 2011, a year in which he was also crowned world champion, and Bradley Wiggins was crowned the first ever British Tour de France winner a year later. Chris Froome’s two overall victories in 2013 and 2015, and his King of the Mountains title in the latter, means Britons continue to rule the Tour’s roads.

Steve Cummings (2010, 2012, 2015, 2016) A domestique for Team Sky in 2010 and BMC Racing in 2012, Cummings moved to MTN-Qhubeka for the 2015 season and claimed a famous solo stage win for the African team on Mandela Day. Steve Cummings earned his maiden Tour de France stage win to make it a very special Mandela Day for his African team, MTN-Qhubeka (pic: Sirotti) Jeremy Hunt (2010) Jeremy Hunt was aged 36 when he appeared in his first and only Tour de France for the Cervelo Test Team in 2010, having turned down the chance to ride as British champion with Banesto in 1997. Daniel Lloyd (2010) Also a member of the Cervelo Test Team in 2010, Daniel Lloyd finished his only Tour de France in 162nd place. Ben Swift (2011) Though with Team Sky from its inception, Ben Swift has ridden just one Tour de France to date.

Ian Stannard (2013, 2015, 2016) Essex rider Ian Stannard has enjoyed individual success in the Classics, but was also a key part of Chris Froome’s two GC wins in 2013 and 2015. Pete Kennaugh (2013, 2015) Olympic gold medallist on the track, Manxman Pete Kennaugh was a surprise inclusion in 2013 but excelled as a domestique in the mountains, and rode as British champion in 2015. Simon Yates (2014, 2015) Turned pro with Orica-GreenEDGE in 2014 and was handed a shock Tour de France debut that same year before completing the race for the first time 12 months later. Luke Rowe (2015, 2016) Welsh rider Luke Rowe earned his Tour de France debut in 2015, with the primary aim of protecting Chris Froome on the flat and cobbled stages. He impressed enough to earn selection again in 2016.

Luke Rowe and Ian Stannard were two of the workhorses behind Chris Froome’s 2015 Tour victory (pic: Sirotti) Alex Dowsett (2015) After a couple of near-misses, Alex Dowsett was handed his Tour debut in 2015 and battled on after a crash on the cobbled stage four before finally abandoning in the mountains. Adam Yates (2015, 2016) Tasked with hunting stage wins in the mountains, the twin brother of team-mate Simon earned three top-ten finishes on his Tour debut in 2015. Dan McLay (2016) Sprinter Dan McLay made his debut at the 2016 Tour de France after picking up his first two pro wins earlier in the season. BBC News | Tour de France | Boardman crashes out Monday, July 13, 1998 Published at 16:40 GMT 17:40 UK Boardman crashes out Boardman is treated on the roadside British No 1 Chris Boardman has crashed out of the Tour de France while wearing the leader's yellow jersey, and before the race even enters France.

Radio 5Live's Simon Brotherton reports from Cork The Gan rider was taken to hospital for a precautionary brain scan during the third of three stages in Ireland. Tour officials said the front wheel of Boardman's bike clipped the rear wheel of team-mate Frederic Moncassin's bike, sending him careering left off the road and into a wall. He hit and cut his head in the incident just before a bonus sprint at Youghal 50km from the finish in Cork. The race is spending three days in the Republic of Ireland before a return to France in time for Bastille Day. Arrival at Cork University hospital Boardman took the race lead in Saturday's prologue stage around Dublin, and held onto it through Stage 1 in the same city yesterday. However the third Irish stage ended his race. Boardman did not lose consciousness in the incident and received immediate attention from medical officials at the side of the road. Race doctor Gerard Porte said: "I have withdrawn him from the race because he doesn't remember the crash.

"He suffered cuts above his left eyebrow and as he doesn't remember anything about the crash we would prefer him to undergo a brain scan." Reports suggest that Boardman asked immediately after the accident if he could remount and get back in the race, but was forced to take the doctor's advice and go to hospital. He was taken in a tour ambulance to Cork's University Hospital, 20 miles from the scene of the fall. He is expected to be kept in overnight and a medical statement is due to be issued later. Boardman was said to be "very disappointed" that his race was over. Another tour of ups and downs for Boardman It means that this race has followed the familiar Boardman pattern of early triumph followed by ultimate disappointment in cycling's biggest race. In 1994 he took the yellow jersey on his tour debut before pulling out. The following year he crashed out in the prologue, before finally finishing his first race in 1996. Last year there was a second prologue win, but then a crash on the first mountain stage which led to his eventual exit with a week of the tour still to go.

Czech triumph Czech Jan Svorada eventually won the 205.5km stage from Enniscorthy to Cork. The Mapei rider beat Robbie McEwen of Australia in a fierce sprint, with Italy's Mario Cipollini third. Boardman would have lost the jersey even if had stayed upright until the end of the stage. Time bonuses gained by German champion Erik Zabel left him at the head of the race as it heads across to Brittany by air and sea for Stage 3. Tour de France Crashes | 7 of the Worst Involving th... 29th June 2016 Share There aren’t many things more savage than a savage Tour de France crash . They’re rough. They’re wild. They’re incredibly painful. Tour de France crashes are serious stuff. Of course, they’re also all the more important when it’s the man in the yellow jersey who’s sent down. Those are the crashes that make an impact on history; that really make a difference in the standings.

Here are some of the worst Tour de France crashes by riders who have been leading the Tour at the time of their downfall, and wearing that coveted Maillot Jaune… Related Articles 1) Wim van Est, 1951 Dutch rider Wim van Est became the first man from the Netherlands to ever put on the yellow jersey when he first wore it in 1951, and he was still wearing it when he fell down a rocky ravine on a perilous mountain climb. > Tour de France Preview 2016: Who are the Main Contenders? One of the most terrifying moments in Tour history, the fall came as a result of a flat tyre. The ravine Wim fell into was 70m deep, and as was the trend of the time, van Est was not wearing a helmet. Though he got back up and on his bike, and wanted to carry on with the race, he was persuaded to cycle instead to the hospital. 2) Bernard Hinault, 1985 Greg LeMond had raced hard to ride ahead of Bernard Hinault, the four-time Tour de France winner who was gunning for his fifth title.

LeMond had already finished when, as the gloriously 80s newcast above shows, Hinault was involved in a shocking crash. The French Hinault was still counted as a finisher as his crash was within 1km of the line, and he was escorted to a hospital as soon as was possible. Amazingly, Hinault recovered and rode on despite a broken nose, winning a record-fifth TdF in the process. Related Articles 3) Joseba Beloki, 2007 Spanish road racer Joseba Beloki wasn’t wearing the yellow jersey when a patch of melted tarmac caught his wheel during a high speed descent and launched him off his bike, but all-round man of the people Lance Armstrong was on his wheel, and he was in yellow. Beloki, in second place behind Lance in the overall, would fracture his femur, elbow and wrist. Lance meanwhile would take on some cyclocross for what would become one of the more memorable detours in Tour de France history before rejoining the pack on the road.

4) Tony Martin, 2015 German rider Tony Martin was in yellow after six stages of the 2015 Tour de France when he crashed out to leave eventual winner Chris Froome in first place. Martin had a heavy fall just 900m from the finish line in Le Havre after clipping the back wheel of the rider he was tailing, breaking his collarbone and sending him home for surgery. 5) Fabian Cancellara, 2015 Tony Martin wasn’t the only Tour de France leader to be launched out the race by injury in 2015 – and compared to Swiss rider Fabian Cancellara’s crash, Tony’s collarbone doesn’t looks so bad. After being involved in a mass pile up on stage three of the Tour, Fabian broke his back for the second time in three months… and went on to finish the stage anyway. Related Articles 6) Chris Boardman, 1998 British number one Chris Boardman crashed out of the Tour de France in brutal fashion while leading in 1998, being taken to hospital for a precautionary brain scan directly after the incident.

The front wheel of Boardman clipped the rear of teammate Frederic Moncassin, and sent him bellowing into a wall to the left of the road on stage two of the race as it passed through Ireland. Though Boardman asked immediately after the accident if he could get back on the bike and finish the race, he was advised to go to hospital and was forced to abandon the Tour with a head injury. 7) Luis Ocana, 1971 Luis Ocana had ridden eight minutes ahead in the yellow jersey ahead of Eddy Merckx in the 1971 Tour de France – an astonishing accomplishment on stage 11 – but as both competed against each other on the Col de Mente, there was a terrible crash. Merckx attacked as he descended, but lost control in the stormy conditions and skidded into a wall. Ocana, wearing the yellow jersey, could not avoid Meckx and became brutally involved in the collision himself. While Merckx was able to get up and away quickly, Ocana could not release his cleats quick enough and was hit by the chasing racer Joop Zoetemelk.

The Maillot Jaune was screaming with pain and though he eventually recovered, he could not complete the Tour. The following day, Eddy Merckx refused to wear the yellow jersey in honour of Ocana. You May Also Like Sir Bradley Wiggins, Chris Froome and Mark Cavendish are all great British cyclists - but who is in our top 10? - Telegraph Cycling Sir Bradley Wiggins, Chris Froome and Mark Cavendish are all great British cyclists - but who is in our top 10? Telegraph Sport compiles its all-time top 10 of British cyclists after Chris Froome becomes the first Briton to win two Tour de France titles Cometh the hour: Sir Bradley Wiggins celebrates his record-breaking ride in London earlier this year Photo: PA By Tom Cary , Cycling Correspondent 12:00PM BST 26 Jun 2015 Follow With Chris Froome becoming Britain's first multiple Tour de France champion, the Kenyan-born Briton is vying for the title of greatest British cyclist of all time – but where does he rank in our top 10?

Here are Telegraph Sport’s top 10 British riders of all time (selected purely subjectively), taking in achievements in all disciplines. Let the arguments begin… Sir Bradley Wiggins The first cyclist in the world to win Olympic gold medals (four of them) on both the track and road, world titles (seven) on both the track and the road, as well as the Tour de France (Wiggins was, of course, the first Briton to do so back in 2012). Wiggins’ versatility is extraordinary. He has also finished top 10 at Paris-Roubaix and is now the holder of the hour record. • Britons to have worn the leader's yellow jersey: Wiggins Speaking to Telegraph Sport back in April, Wiggins’ former boss at Team Sky and British Cycling, Sir David Brailsford, argued that the 35 year-old’s versatility put him ahead of the rest. “Cav has been absolutely unbelievable at a single discipline, which is phenomenal in itself," Brailsford said. "And actually he has greater depth than that because he is a brilliant Madison rider too. He is brilliant on the track and has that crossover. That shouldn't be underestimated. Chris Hoy as well.

He has gone from being brilliant at riding in a straight line in the kilo (1km) to team sprints, individual sprints, the keirin, which requires a technical and tactical nous as well as physical. Nobody can say that was not impressive. "Nicole Cooke was versatile. She won in mountain bikes, junior cyclo-cross, won a lot on the road. Chris Froome obviously has been dominant on the road. But for being Olympic champion in the team pursuit, world champion in the Madison, individual world and Olympic time trial champion and Tour de France winner ... you have to say Brad.” Mark Cavendish Fans of a certain age would no doubt argue for the inclusion of Barry Hoban on this list. And like his friend Tom Simpson, the great Yorkshireman was undoubtedly a trailblazer, winning eight Tour stages in eight years between 1967 and 1975. Hoban also won two stages of the Vuelta a España and famously beat Eddy Merckx by a wheel to win the 1974 Ghent-Wevelgem. But if there is only room for one male sprinter it has to be Cavendish.

Arguably the greatest sprinter in the history of cycling, the Manx Missile has won 26 Tour stages, placing him third on the all-time list behind Merckx and Bernard Hinault. Cavendish has also won Milan-Sanremo and the 2011 world road race title, not to mention two world Madison titles on the track. Chris Froome The first British rider to win multiple Tour de France titles, Froome is – like Wiggins – an excellent time triallist. But he is undoubtedly stronger and more explosive than his former Team Sky team-mate in the mountains. Froome must now be acclaimed as Britain's greatest ever stage racer. The Kenyan-born rider finished second behind Wiggins at the 2012 Tour – almost upsetting the apple cart at one stage by leaving his leader on stage 11 to La Toussuire – and then took bronze in the Olympic time trial in London a few weeks later.

Far more steely than his mild-mannered exterior suggests, Froome won his first Tour title in 2013, crashed out in 2014 when he was joint favourite but returned in 2015 to claim a second title, shrugging off the slurs and innuendo and proving that he could also ride well on classics-style stages. Froome has also twice finished second in the Vuelta a España. Sir Chris Hoy With a total of seven Olympic medals, six gold and one silver, Wiggins’ fellow knight rider is the most decorated Olympic cyclist of all time. He has also won more Olympic gold medals (six) than any other British athlete. It is hard to find fault with Hoy, but since he did not also clean up on the road, he finds himself in third place on this list. It speaks volumes that Hoy himself acknowledges Wiggins as the greatest. Nicole Cooke Outspoken, often controversial, and fiercely competitive, Cooke was a versatile rider and a winning machine before retiring at the age of just 29.

The Welshwoman won the British road title at 16, the British cyclo-cross title at 17, four world junior titles (including the unique treble of mountain bike, time trial and road race in 2001) before going on to win Commonwealth, Olympic and world road race titles. Tom Simpson Widely acknowledged as Britain’s greatest cyclist up until the cycling boom of the 21st century, Simpson was the first Briton to wear the yellow jersey at the 1962 Tour de France, in which he finished sixth. • Britons to have worn the leader's yellow jersey: Simpson He won three of cycling’s five monuments – Tour of Flanders (1961), Milan-Sanremo (1964) and the Tour of Lombardy (1965) – and was, until Cavendish’s win in 2011, the only British man ever to pull on the rainbow jersey of the world road race champion. His tragic death on Mont Ventoux during the 13th stage of the 1967 Tour de France reverberates to this day.

Chris Boardman A solo rider par excellence, Boardman’s 1992 Olympic gold in the 4,000m individual pursuit, when he rode his famous Lotus 108, catapulted him to fame. He went on to claim prologue time trial victory and the yellow jersey at the 1994 Tour de France (a trick he repeated in 1997 and 1998). In the same year, he also won the world time trial championship in Salzburg. • Britons to have worn the leader's yellow jersey: Chris Boardman Two world pursuit titles followed, while his incredible rivalry with Graeme Obree saw the two swap Hour records on increasingly outlandish bicycles as well as capture the imagination of the public. Boardman has also had huge success post-retirement as a commentator, bicycle designer, technical advisor to Team GB and cycling lobbyist. Robert Millar One of Britain’s greatest ever stage racers, of that there can be little doubt.

Although he did not win a grand tour, Millar finished on the podium at the Giro d’Italia (second in 1987) and the Vuelta a España (second in 1985 and 1986), while his fourth place in the 1984 Tour de France was the highest by a British rider up until at that point. He was also king of the mountains that year. Beryl Burton Quite simply a legend of the sport, Beryl Burton was an indomitable Yorkshirewoman who dominated women’s cycling for the best part of three decades. Her achievements are dizzying. Twice a world road race champion and a five-time winner of the world individual pursuit title, Burton also clocked up 72 national time trial titles, as well as 24 road and pursuit titles. In 1975, at the age of 38, she won a bronze medal at the world pursuit championships riding with her daughter Denise. Burton once famously caught and passed Mike McNamara in the 12-hour record.

NcNamara was busy setting a new record in the men’s event but Burton eventually beat him by nearly three quarters of a mile, setting 277.25 miles in total. Legend has it she gave him a liquorice allsort as she passed. Victoria Pendleton Beating off competition from the likes of Hoban, David Millar, Brian Robinson, Reg Harris, Obree, Laura Trott, Hugh Porter, Jason Kenny, Tony Doyle, Michael Wright and Malcolm Elliott, Pendleton simply has to be on any list of great British cyclists. She frequently gave her bosses at British Cycling headaches. But she was hugely popular with the British public; and hugely successful too. An inspirational figure for many young female athletes, 'Queen Vic' cemented her status as a national treasure by claiming gold in the keirin at the 2012 Olympics, as well as silver in the sprint. With two gold medals and one silver, she is Great Britain's most successful female Olympian. She also won nine world titles including a record six in the individual sprint.

British riders to have worn the leader's yellow jersey at the Tour de France: Chris Boardman in 1994, 1997 and 1998 - Telegraph Tour de France British riders to have worn the leader's yellow jersey at the Tour de France: Chris Boardman in 1994, 1997 and 1998 Telegraph Sport profiles Chris Boardman, the only British rider to have worn the leader's maillot jaune at the Tour de France in more than one race Trailblazer: Chris Boardman is the only Briton to wear the leader's yellow jersey in more than one edition of the Tour de France Photo: GETTY IMAGES Follow Chris Boardman became the second British rider to wear the maillot jaune, the leader's yellow jersey at the Tour de France , in 1994, 22 year's after Tom Simpson had become the first Briton to wear the most iconic jersey in cycling .

After claiming numerous amateur titles Boardman, in 1992, won a gold medal in the track pursuit at the Olympic Games in Barcelona after lapping Germany's Jens Lehmann in the Velòdrom d'Horta thus announcing himself to the outside world. The following summer, in one of the most exciting track duels of the era, the Merseysider went on to beat Graeme Obree's world hour record by 674 metres just days after the Scot had himself beaten Franceso Moser of Italy's record which had stood since 1984. It was, though, in 1994 that Boardman made his mark on the Tour in blistering fashion. When Boardman, 25, arrived on the starting ramp in Lille for the 81st edition of the world's biggest bike race he had yet to compete in one of cycling's three grand tours – the Tour, Vuelta a España and Giro d'Italia – and yet there he was set to go up against the then three-time winner Miguel Indurain of Spain and Tony Rominger of Switzerland.

Related Articles British riders to have worn yellow 28 Jul 2013 The Tour debutant rolled down the ramp 10th from last with Indurain and Rominger, who both later went on to claim the prestigious world hour record, to follow. Boardman, a rider nicknamed 'The Professor' due to his approach to technology, training and the minutiae of the cycling, simply did what he knew best and powered his way around the 7.2-kilometre prologue course in a record-breaking average speed of 55.152kph. Shortly later, after Indurain trailed in 15 seconds slower than Boardman and Rominger a further four seconds back the Briton was handed his first ever maillot jaune on what turned out to be a dream debut. After defending the jersey for two more stages Boardman's dream, though, turned slightly sour as on the eve of the race visiting the shores of Britain for only the second time he lost it following a disastrous team time-trial that saw his team, GAN, fall apart as he dropped from overall leader to 20th in the general classification. "I was absolutely gutted," Boardman later said.

"Because people were so enthusiastic. I could just imagine what it would have been like coming to England with the yellow jersey." However, despite the disappointment of losing the maillot jaune Boardman had made cycling history after becoming the first Briton to wear the jersey for more than one day. Further disappointment followed at the Tour when he crashed during the 1995 prologue before being forced to abandon and then, in 1996, having to settle for second behind Switzerland's Alex Zülle. The following year the time trial specialist, once again, won the opening prologue as he became the first Briton to wear the maillot jaune in two Tours de France following his 7.3km dash around the streets of Rouen. On this occasion, though, his tenure in yellow was short-lived after the Italian sprinter Mario Cipollini won the following day's stage – and with it a valuable time bonus – to wrest the jersey off his back. In 1998 Tour de France organisers had handed Dublin the honour of hosting the grand départ, the opening stage of the race, in recognition of two of Ireland's greatest riders Sean Kelly and 1987 winner Stephen Roche.

With thousands of British fans lining the streets of the Irish capital with, no doubt, many travelling the short distance over from Merseyside where Boardman had first started cycling on the roads around Birkenhead, the scene was set for another victory for 'Mr Prologue'. Boardman, though, had arrived in Ireland short on form and lacking in confidence. Indeed, he had even told his team manager that he stood no chance of winning. Minutes before rolling down the starting ramp, for what turned out to be his final Tour de France prologue victory, Boardman told himself 'not to worry about the result. Be as good as I can be'. After 5.6km in the saddle Boardman secured what he later claimed to be his best win "because it was so unexpected" and "it made so many people so happy". The Briton defended his jersey for another day to wear it for a sixth and final day on the 205.5km stage from Enniscorthy to Cork before suffering a nasty crash ahead of a sprint finish. Boardman was forced to quit the race after he was stretchered away in a neck brace and covered in blood.

Boardman's exploits, until Bradley Wiggins in 2012, saw him to be the most prolific custodian of the maillot jaune in British cycling history having worn it for six days over three separate Tours de France while he still remains the only Briton to wear it in more than one year. After retiring from competitive sport Boardman developed his own brand of bike and was appointed technical adviser to British Cycling, the sport's national governing body, while he worked with Team GB as equipment and technical manager at the Beijing Olympic Games. Boardman remains a popular figure within cycling and currently works as a presenter for both ITV and BBC during the Tour and international competitions such as the world championships and Olympics.

Boardman's highlights Born: August 26, 1968 Biggest wins of his career: Olympic track pursuit (1992), world hour record (1993 & 1996), Tour de France prologues (1994, 1997 & 1998), world track pursuit (1994 & 1996), world time-trail (1994) Days in yellow: Six (three, 1994; one, 1997; two, 1998)

Question: Which British cyclist crashed out of the 1998 Tour de France while wearing the Yellow Jersey?
Answer: Chris Boardman