CYCLISTS from Portugal

Top 10

The following people are considered by Pantheon to be the top 10 most legendary Portuguese Cyclists of all time. This list of famous Portuguese 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 Portuguese Cyclists.

1. Rui Costa (b. 1986)

With an HPI of 49.37, Rui Costa is the most famous Portuguese Cyclist.  His biography has been translated into 28 different languages on wikipedia.

Rui Alberto Faria da Costa (born 5 October 1986) is a Portuguese professional road bicycle racer, who rides for UCI WorldTeam EF Education–EasyPost. He is best known for winning the 2013 UCI Road World Championships in Tuscany, Italy (the first Portuguese rider to do so), three stages of the Tour de France in 2011 and 2013, one stage in the Vuelta a España in 2023, and the 2012, 2013 and 2014 editions of the Tour de Suisse, becoming the first cyclist to win the event for three consecutive years.

2. João Almeida (b. 1998)

With an HPI of 46.65, João Almeida is the 2nd most famous Portuguese Cyclist.  His biography has been translated into 25 different languages.

João Pedro Gonçalves Almeida (pronounced [ʒuˈɐ̃w alˈmɐjðɐ]; born 5 August 1998) is a Portuguese professional cyclist who currently rides for UCI WorldTeam UAE Team Emirates XRG. Almeida rose to prominence during the 2020 Giro d'Italia, his Grand Tour debut, where he held the race leader's pink jersey for two weeks. Almeida finished the race fourth overall, the best finish at the race for a Portuguese rider. Almeida finished third at the Giro in 2023, also winning a stage and the young rider classification, and has won four UCI WorldTour stage races: the 2021 Tour de Pologne, 2025 Tour of the Basque Country, 2025 Tour de Romandie and 2025 Tour de Suisse.

3. Sérgio Paulinho (b. 1980)

With an HPI of 46.59, Sérgio Paulinho is the 3rd most famous Portuguese Cyclist.  His biography has been translated into 23 different languages.

Sérgio Miguel Moreira Paulinho, ComIH (born 26 March 1980) is a Portuguese road bicycle racer, who currently rides for UCI Continental team Credibom / LA Alumínios / Marcos Car. He was a domestique in the 2007, 2009 and 2010 Tour de France and won the silver medal for Portugal in the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.

4. José Azevedo (b. 1973)

With an HPI of 45.96, José Azevedo is the 4th most famous Portuguese Cyclist.  His biography has been translated into 16 different languages.

José Bento Azevedo Carvalho (born 19 September 1973) is a Portuguese retired road racing cyclist, and most recently, general manager of UCI WorldTeam Team Katusha–Alpecin. During his racing career, Azevedo rode for ONCE–Eroski between 2001 and 2003 and for U.S. Postal Service between 2004 and 2006.

5. Nelson Oliveira (b. 1989)

With an HPI of 42.56, Nelson Oliveira is the 5th most famous Portuguese Cyclist.  His biography has been translated into 20 different languages.

Nelson Filipe dos Santos Simões Oliveira (born 6 March 1989) is a Portuguese professional road racing cyclist who currently rides for UCI WorldTeam Movistar Team.

6. Tiago Machado (b. 1985)

With an HPI of 41.05, Tiago Machado is the 6th most famous Portuguese Cyclist.  His biography has been translated into 16 different languages.

Tiago José Pinto Machado (born 18 October 1985) is a Portuguese former professional road racing cyclist, who rode professionally between 2005 and 2022 for seven different teams. He took three victories during his career – the 2009 Portuguese National Time Trial Championships, a stage at the 2010 Circuit de la Sarthe, and the general classification at the 2014 Tour of Slovenia.

7. Ivo Oliveira (b. 1996)

With an HPI of 40.20, Ivo Oliveira is the 7th most famous Portuguese Cyclist.  His biography has been translated into 14 different languages.

Ivo Emanuel Alves Oliveira (born 5 September 1996) is a Portuguese racing cyclist, who currently rides for UCI WorldTeam UAE Team Emirates XRG. He competed in the points race at the 2016 UCI Track Cycling World Championships. His twin brother, Rui Oliveira, is also an international track cyclist. In 2018, he became the first Portuguese rider to win a medal in the UCI Track Cycling World Championships. In October 2020, he was named in the startlist for the 2020 Vuelta a España.

8. Ruben Guerreiro (b. 1994)

With an HPI of 39.02, Ruben Guerreiro is the 8th most famous Portuguese Cyclist.  His biography has been translated into 18 different languages.

Rúben António Almeida Guerreiro (pronounced [ˈʁuβɛn ɡɨˈʁɐjɾu]; born 6 July 1994) is a Portuguese professional road racing cyclist, who currently rides for UCI WorldTeam Movistar Team.

9. Rui Oliveira (b. 1996)

With an HPI of 37.53, Rui Oliveira is the 9th most famous Portuguese Cyclist.  His biography has been translated into 17 different languages.

Rui Filipe Alves Oliveira (European Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈʁuj fɨˈlipɨ ˈalvɨz ɔliˈvɐjɾɐ]; born 5 September 1996) is a Portuguese cyclist, who currently rides for UCI WorldTeam UAE Team Emirates XRG. He competed in the scratch event at the 2015 UCI Track Cycling World Championships. His twin brother, Ivo Oliveira, is also an international track cyclist. In October 2020, he was named in the startlist for the 2020 Vuelta a España. Competing in his first Olympic Games in Paris 2024, he won a gold medal in the Madison event alongside Iúri Leitão.

10. José Gonçalves (b. 1989)

With an HPI of 37.14, José Gonçalves is the 10th most famous Portuguese Cyclist.  His biography has been translated into 14 different languages.

José Isidro Gonçalves Maciel (born 13 February 1989) is a Portuguese cyclist, who last rode for UCI Continental team W52 / FC Porto. He rode in the 2015 Vuelta a España. His biggest win to date was the overall at the 2016 Tour of Turkey. He was named in the start list for the 2017 Giro d'Italia. In July 2019, he was named in the startlist for the 2019 Tour de France. On 12 April 2023, he received a four-year ban by UCI for doping.