CYCLISTS from New Zealand

Top 10

The following people are considered by Pantheon to be the top 10 most legendary New Zealander Cyclists of all time. This list of famous New Zealander Cyclists is sorted by HPI (Historical Popularity Index), a metric that aggregates information on a biography's online popularity. Visit the rankings page to view the entire list of New Zealander Cyclists.

1. Greg Henderson (b. 1976)

With an HPI of 45.68, Greg Henderson is the most famous New Zealander Cyclist.  His biography has been translated into 17 different languages on wikipedia.

Gregory Henderson (born 10 September 1976) is a New Zealand former professional track and road racing cyclist, who rode professionally between 2002 and 2017. His career includes winning the 15-kilometre (9.3-mile) scratch race at the 2004 world championships and, in road cycling, winning the points competition at the Tour de Georgia in 2005 and 2008. Henderson rode in five Olympic Games and completed 11 Grand Tours. He also competed in four Commonwealth Games and was a four-time medallist, including winning gold in the points race in 2002. During an important part of his career, he served as André Greipel's main lead-out man, and they were colleagues at both T-Mobile Team and later Lotto–Soudal. In addition to 17 New Zealand track and road titles and eight World Cup track golds, Henderson has been New Zealand Track Cyclist of the Year (2001, 2002, 2003) and Athlete of the Year, Otago, New Zealand (2001, 2002, 2003).

2. Julian Dean (b. 1975)

With an HPI of 43.50, Julian Dean is the 2nd most famous New Zealander Cyclist.  His biography has been translated into 18 different languages.

Julian Dean (born 28 January 1975) is a former professional road racing cyclist from New Zealand who competed as a professional between 1999 and 2013. He last rode for UCI World Tour team Orica–GreenEDGE, where he now works as an assistant sporting director and mentor. His main achievements include winning the 2007 and 2008 New Zealand National Road Race Championships, finishing 9th in the 2005 World Road Championships in Madrid, 10th place in the 2002 World Road Championships in Zolder and finishing second in Grand Tour stages four times. At the peak of his career he was considered the best lead out rider in the world, and was highly regarded by his teammate and friend Thor Hushovd.

3. Jack Bauer (b. 1985)

With an HPI of 41.54, Jack Bauer is the 3rd most famous New Zealander Cyclist.  His biography has been translated into 18 different languages.

Hans Jacob Bauer (born 7 April 1985) is a New Zealand former professional road racing cyclist, who competed as a professional from 2010 to 2023.

4. George Bennett (b. 1990)

With an HPI of 40.58, George Bennett is the 4th most famous New Zealander Cyclist.  His biography has been translated into 20 different languages.

George Bennett (born 7 April 1990) is a New Zealand professional road racing cyclist, who currently rides for UCI ProTeam Israel–Premier Tech. He represented New Zealand at the 2016 and 2020 Summer Olympics. He was the winner of the 2017 Tour of California, the 2020 Gran Piemonte and the 2021 New Zealand road cycling championships. He came second in the 2020 Il Lombardia.

5. Simon van Velthooven (b. 1988)

With an HPI of 40.34, Simon van Velthooven is the 5th most famous New Zealander Cyclist.  His biography has been translated into 17 different languages.

Simon Paul van Velthooven (born 8 December 1988) is a New Zealand track racing cyclist and America's Cup sailor. Van Velthooven was born in Palmerston North in 1988. He has two younger sisters; his youngest sister, Emily, works as a journalist for Television New Zealand (TVNZ). Simon won New Zealand's first sprint cycling medal in the men's keirin at the 2012 Summer Olympics jointly with Teun Mulder after the race officials were unable to separate the two in a photo finish for third place. He has also won multiple World Championship and Commonwealth Games medals and was the 2012 World Cup champion in the 1 km time trial and keirin events In 2014, he won a silver in the 1000 m time trial at the Commonwealth Games. Van Velthooven joined Team New Zealand in 2015 and was one of the original "cyclors" that helped develop the revolutionary boat and was a huge asset to the team that won the 2017 America's Cup for Team New Zealand.

6. Aaron Gate (b. 1990)

With an HPI of 39.60, Aaron Gate is the 6th most famous New Zealander Cyclist.  His biography has been translated into 20 different languages.

Aaron Gate (born 26 November 1990) is a New Zealand road and track cyclist, who currently rides for UCI WorldTeam XDS Astana Team. He represented his country in track cycling at the 2012, 2016 and 2020 Summer Olympics. Gate is the first New Zealand athlete to win four gold medals at a single Commonwealth Games.

7. Hayden Roulston (b. 1981)

With an HPI of 37.55, Hayden Roulston is the 7th most famous New Zealander Cyclist.  His biography has been translated into 19 different languages.

Hayden Roulston (born 10 January 1981) is a New Zealand former professional racing cyclist. He won the silver medal in the men's 4000 m individual pursuit and a bronze medal in the men's 4000 m team pursuit at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. He won the New Zealand road cycling championships on four occasions (2006, 2011, 2013, 2014), the Tour of Southland on three occasions (2006, 2007, 2008) and came tenth in the 2010 edition of Paris - Roubaix.

8. Sam Webster (b. 1991)

With an HPI of 36.63, Sam Webster is the 8th most famous New Zealander Cyclist.  His biography has been translated into 18 different languages.

Sam Webster (born 16 July 1991) is a former New Zealand track cyclist. He was the sprint, keirin and team sprint World Champion at the 2009 Junior World Championships and New Zealand national track cycling champion. He won gold medals at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in the individual sprint and the team sprint.

9. Jesse Sergent (b. 1988)

With an HPI of 36.38, Jesse Sergent is the 9th most famous New Zealander Cyclist.  His biography has been translated into 19 different languages.

Jesse Sergent (born 8 July 1988) is a retired New Zealand racing cyclist who rode professionally between 2011 and 2016 for Team RadioShack, Trek Factory Racing and AG2R La Mondiale.

10. Patrick Bevin (b. 1991)

With an HPI of 36.17, Patrick Bevin is the 10th most famous New Zealander Cyclist.  His biography has been translated into 16 different languages.

Patrick Bevin (born 15 February 1991) is a New Zealand former professional road racing cyclist, who last rode the 2024 season for UCI WorldTeam Team dsm–firmenich PostNL.