The Greatest Tours of the 80s and 90s – And What the Riders Wore

The 1980s and 1990s were a golden age for cycling. The battles were fierce, the characters were larger than life, and the jerseys—oh, the jerseys—were unforgettable. At PullingTurns.com, we don’t just admire the legends of the road, we celebrate the iconic kits they wore while making history.

Let’s rewind to some of the most legendary editions of the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia, and Vuelta a España from this era—and the jerseys that became symbols of greatness.

🏆 Tour de France 1985 – Bernard Hinault’s Last Stand

• Winner: Bernard Hinault (La Vie Claire)
• Jersey Highlight: The La Vie Claire kit, designed by Benetton fashion consultant Jean-Paul Gaultier, is now legendary for its Mondrian-inspired geometric pattern. Bright reds, blues, and yellows clashed boldly against a white background—just like the team’s internal battle between Hinault and Greg LeMond.
• Why It Mattered: Hinault took his fifth and final yellow jersey, cementing his status as one of the greatest of all time.

🌟 Tour de France 1989 – The 8-Second Miracle

• Winner: Greg LeMond (ADR)
• Jersey Highlight: LeMond’s ADR team jersey was modest in design—blue and white with minimal branding—but its wearer made it historic. He also wore a pioneering aero helmet and tri-bars in the final time trial.
• Why It Mattered: LeMond overcame a 50-second deficit on the final day to beat Laurent Fignon by just 8 seconds—still the closest Tour finish in history.

💨 Giro d’Italia 1992 – Indurain Dominates

• Winner: Miguel Indurain (Banesto)
• Jersey Highlight: Indurain’s Banesto jersey was clean, powerful, and unmistakably 90s. With its deep blue, bold red blocks, and subtle gradients, it matched the calm, crushing dominance of the Spaniard.
• Why It Mattered: Indurain crushed the time trials and handled the mountains with ease, completing the Giro-Tour double for the first time.

🔥 Tour de France 1998 – The Year of the Pirate

• Winner: Marco Pantani (Mercatone Uno)
• Jersey Highlight: The Mercatone Uno jersey was loud and unmistakable—bright yellow with a splash of teal and red, matching Pantani’s earring, shaved head, and fiery style.
• Why It Mattered: Pantani launched blistering attacks in the Alps and Pyrenees. It was the last time a rider won both the Giro and Tour in the same year.

🧗‍♂️ Vuelta a España 1994 – Rominger’s Triple Crown

• Winner: Tony Rominger (Mapei–Clas)
• Jersey Highlight: The Mapei–Clas jersey with its colorful mosaic cubes became one of the most instantly recognizable kits of the 90s. Even today, it screams retro class.
• Why It Mattered: Rominger completed his third consecutive Vuelta win, a feat rarely matched in the modern era.

🧥 What These Jerseys Represent

These kits were more than uniforms. They represented:

• Team rivalries (La Vie Claire)
• National pride (Banesto for Spain, Mercatone Uno for Italy)
• Innovations in design (Mapei’s graphic mosaic, LeMond’s aero fit)
• Shifting eras in the sport—from raw, old-school grit to modern professionalism

They’ve become part of cycling’s visual memory—instantly bringing back the roar of the crowd, the grit of the climbs, and the glory of the finish line.

🛒 Want to Wear the Legacy?

At PullingTurns.com, we’ve curated a collection of the most iconic jerseys from cycling’s greatest decades. Whether you’re reliving the passion of Pantani, the precision of Indurain, or the heart of LeMond—you can wear the legend.

👉 Explore our vintage cycling jersey collection
🎽 Ride the past. Turn heads today.