Top 10 Mountain Bike Riders Of All Time – Who Is The Greatest Mountain Biker Ever? 34

​The title of greatest mountain biker ever is a very close run thing. Is the greatest rider a downhiller, like the legendary Steve Peat or Greg Minnaar? A cross-country rider like Gunn Rita Dahle or Nino Schurter? An Olympic champion like Julien Absalon? John Tomac – the ultimate all-round rider? Trials legend Hans Rey?



Yep, it's a pretty tough call. Let us know who you think the greatest mountain biker of all time is in the comments.



Credit:

​GMBN
34 comments

View replies to: Top 10 Mountain Bike Riders Of All Time – Who Is The Greatest Mountain Biker Ever?

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fast_bastard
9 years ago
Nicholas Vouilloz and Anne Caroline Chausson, hands down. Nico won DH World Champs 9 years in a row. The 10th year he flatted. He came back the 11th year and won again.

Chausson has won World Champs 19 times, and has an Olympic Gold Medal to her name.
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NWDommen
9 years ago
Given the many different disciplines and achievements to measure success by, that that is a very vague question to answer.
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stickboy
9 years ago
Tomac. Hands down. He did more with less in everything he did. XC, DH, etc. Easy choice here!
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Varaxis
9 years ago
Tomac gets my vote.

It should be noted that he helped guide/train Gwin in '11. Gwin dominated the World Cups for consecutive years, '11 and '12.
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T-Dawg
9 years ago
First thought that came to my mind when I read the title was Hans Rey. He was the Pioneer who made MTB cool and put big wheels in the public eye. As it said in the video: "It didn't seem like mountain biking even existed before Hans Rey"
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blast_off
9 years ago
oh I get it, no need to put Lopes on the list because it wouldn't be a fair competition!
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peewho
9 years ago
Nico Vouilloz, Sam Hill and Aaron Gwin. Top 3 for me because of the consistent dominance they laid on their respective fields (during their time)

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Scott_Townes
9 years ago
Great list and I would agree with a lot of that but it kinda sucks they only focused on racing... also why didn't this tea sucker include Gwin?! Even if he retired now, he would be among the all-time greats of DH.
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kvnsimons
9 years ago
Graves seems like he's next to Tomac in crossover talent. Only a few guys have arguably been competitive in both cross country and downhill, Graves, gracia, minnaar, Tomac, obviously. Was Furtado on the list? Lopes should be on the list as well.
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Yippee_Ki_YayMF
9 years ago
Yeah I would have Hill and Gwin ahead of Peat and Minnar. No disrespect to those two, but Hill completely changed the way DH was raced and is a 5 time World Champ. I'm really really really suprised Hill was left off that list. And Graves as well.
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dhmf
9 years ago
I would leave out some XC guys and get Hill, Gwin, Peat and Minaar in! I mean, who is Thomas Frischknecht!?
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Dogboy
9 years ago
Jared Graves and Anne Caroline Chausson. Both incredibly well-rounded and successful at multiple disciplines.
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OneManArmy
9 years ago
Not a bad list.

I'd add a couple folks for honorable mention.

Shaun Palmer. Great DH and DS results. Would have probably been more dominant had he not also been so competitive in snow boarding.
Missy Giove. DH beast and one of the only women to post quality mens times. Anyone that was at the kamakazee dh where she bailed and still finished... respect.
Gwin. He's still got life in his career but what he's done already is impressive... especially considering he's done it with no tire and no chain.
Brian Lopes. How he's not on the list is beyond me.
I'd consider a handfull of the big mountain guys here... and slopestye guys. Kyle Strait. Cam Zink. Simons. Etc. At least one of them should be on the list.
Juli Furtado
Ned Overend
Give it another couple years and I'd say Soderstrom and Lacondeguy should be on there.


But overall pretty solid. The big leave off for me would probably be Lopes.
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Scott_Townes
9 years ago
Lacondeguy maybe but not Soderstrom. There are many other freeriders that can be considered above both of those choices that have done much more important and impactful things up till this point. Soderstrom has yet to do anything (aside from consistent podium finishes and smooth style) to be considered one of the greats of all time and I don't see anything happening down the line that would change my mind... unless he goes 2 full seasons undefeated.
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billybobzia
9 years ago
should be called top ten mtn bike racers of all time.. Wade Simmons, BearClaw, Semenuk.. would be on my list.. and how can Gwin not be on that list??
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epic
9 years ago
Um, they forgot Juli Furtado and of course, Ned. The only correct answer though is John Tomac. By the way he is from Michigan despite the hat.
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