If not the greatest female cyclist of all time, Jeannie Longo certainly has had the longest career. As of 2011, she is still active, having won her first national title in 1979. Originally a skier (both alpine and cross-country), Longo has won all available titles in the sport. She has been world champion 13 times, five times in the road race (1985-87, 1989, 1995), four times in the time trial (1995-197, 2001), three times in the individual pursuit (1986, 1988-89) on the track, and once in the track’s points race (1989). In 1993 she also medalled at the World Championships in mountainbiking, finishing second in the cross-country. Jeannie Longo is the winner of four Olympic medals, including a gold medal in the road race of 1996 after four failed attempts as a favorite. Longo has competed in Olympic cycling all seven times the sport has been held for women (1984-2008). She has won the Grande Boucle three times in a row (1987-89) and has 24 French titles to her name, her latest as recent as 2010. Longo has also broken the world hour record a total of six times. Longo has retired, or been assumed to retire, several times, but except for a break between 1989-91 has always continued racing, often against competitors who were not even born when she won her first titles. Despite her successes, Longo is not very popular in the peloton, due to her competitiveness and preference to make her own decisions in preparation and during the race.
France