CYCLISTS from Lithuania

Top 10

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

1. Raimondas Rumšas (b. 1972)

With an HPI of 42.27, Raimondas Rumšas is the most famous Lithuanian Cyclist.  His biography has been translated into 22 different languages on wikipedia.

Raimondas Rumšas (born 14 January 1972) is a Lithuanian former professional road bicycle racer. He came third in the 2002 Tour de France but was implicated in a doping scandal.

2. Artūras Kasputis (b. 1967)

With an HPI of 41.54, Artūras Kasputis is the 2nd most famous Lithuanian Cyclist.  Her biography has been translated into 18 different languages.

Artūras Kasputis (born 26 February 1967) is a retired track and road racing cyclist from Lithuania, who represented the USSR at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. There he won the gold medal in the men's 4.000 team pursuit, alongside Viacheslav Ekimov, Dmitry Nelyubin and Gintautas Umaras. During the Soviet time he trained at Dynamo sports society in Klaipėda. He was a professional road cyclist from 1992 to 2002, and afterwards became a cycling manager in the professional circuit.

3. Gintautas Umaras (b. 1963)

With an HPI of 39.47, Gintautas Umaras is the 3rd most famous Lithuanian Cyclist.  His biography has been translated into 18 different languages.

Gintautas Umaras (born 20 May 1963) is a retired track and road racing cyclist from Lithuania, who represented the USSR at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. There he won the gold medal in the men's 4 km individual pursuit and in the men's team pursuit, alongside Viatcheslav Ekimov, Dmitry Nelyubin and Artūras Kasputis. During the Soviet time he trained at Dynamo sports society in Klaipėda. For most of his career, he competed for the Soviet Union. He was a professional road cyclist from 1989 to 1991. Umaras achieved several world records: in 1984 he broke the record in men's 5 km individual pursuit; in 1985, 1986, and 1987 – in men's 4 km individual pursuit; and in 1988 – in men's 4 km team pursuit. Umaras was among the people who helped to establish the National Olympic Committee of Lithuania when Lithuania regained independence from the Soviet Union. He was appointed as one of its vice presidents. Gintautas and his brother Mindaugas run several sport equipment shops in Vilnius and Klaipėda.

4. Diana Žiliūtė (b. 1976)

With an HPI of 36.74, Diana Žiliūtė is the 4th most famous Lithuanian Cyclist.  Her biography has been translated into 19 different languages.

Diana Žiliūtė (Lithuanian pronunciation: [dʲɪjɛˈnɐ ʑɪˈlʲuːtʲeː]; born 28 May 1976 in Rietavas) is a Lithuanian racing cyclist who dominated women's road racing in the late 1990s. She made her debut in the pro cycling ranks in the mid-1990s after winning the 1994 World Junior Road Race Championship. She rose to the top of women's cycling in 1998 when she won two World Road Cup races, the overall World Road Cup title, and capped the season by winning the World Road Race Championships and leading the UCI Women's Road World Rankings. The following year (1999), she further demonstrated her all around prowess by winning the Grande Boucle, one of the hardest stage races in women's cycle racing history. This was followed in 2000 by a bronze medal at the Summer Olympics. For her achievements, Žiliūtė was awarded the Order of Gediminas, a Lithuanian state honor.

5. Edita Pučinskaitė (b. 1975)

With an HPI of 35.00, Edita Pučinskaitė is the 5th most famous Lithuanian Cyclist.  Her biography has been translated into 18 different languages.

Edita Pučinskaitė (born November 27, 1975, in Naujoji Akmenė) is a Lithuanian racing cyclist. For many years, she was one of the top competitors in women's road racing with a victory in the World Road Race Championships in 1999 and several high finishes in major tours, world championships and the UCI points listings.

6. Tomas Vaitkus (b. 1982)

With an HPI of 33.62, Tomas Vaitkus is the 6th most famous Lithuanian Cyclist.  His biography has been translated into 21 different languages.

Tomas Vaitkus (born 4 February 1982) is a Lithuanian professional road racing cyclist riding for UCI Continental team Rietumu Banka–Riga. Vaitkus, nicknamed Tomas the Tank Engine, made his Tour de France debut in the 2007 edition but had to abandon after a serious crash at the end of stage two. Team RadioShack announced that he would be joining the team in 2010. He rejoined Astana in 2011. On 29 August 2011, it was announced that Vaitkus would join GreenEDGE for its inaugural season in 2012.

7. Ramūnas Navardauskas (b. 1988)

With an HPI of 33.09, Ramūnas Navardauskas is the 7th most famous Lithuanian Cyclist.  His biography has been translated into 24 different languages.

Ramūnas Navardauskas (born 30 January 1988) is a Lithuanian former professional road racing cyclist, who rode professionally between 2011 and 2022 for Cannondale–Drapac, Bahrain–Merida, Nippo–Delko–One Provence and the Voltas Cycling Team. Following his retirement as a rider, Navardauskas now works as a directeur sportif for UCI Continental team EF Education–Nippo Development Team.

8. Ignatas Konovalovas (b. 1985)

With an HPI of 32.78, Ignatas Konovalovas is the 8th most famous Lithuanian Cyclist.  His biography has been translated into 21 different languages.

Ignatas Konovalovas (born 8 December 1985) is a Lithuanian road bicycle racer, who currently rides for UCI WorldTeam Groupama–FDJ. Konovalovas has won the Lithuanian National Time Trial Championships seven times, in 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2016, and 2017.

9. Gediminas Bagdonas (b. 1985)

With an HPI of 30.29, Gediminas Bagdonas is the 9th most famous Lithuanian Cyclist.  His biography has been translated into 18 different languages.

Gediminas Bagdonas (born 26 December 1985) is a Lithuanian former professional road racing cyclist, who competed professionally between 2007 and 2019 for the Klaipeda–Splendid, Ulan, Team Piemonte, An Post–Sean Kelly and AG2R La Mondiale teams. He was named in the start list for the 2015 Vuelta a España. Following his retirement, Bagdonas now works as a directeur sportif for UCI Continental team Kaunas Cycling Team. Since 2023 Bagdonas is one of the coaches of Lithuanian national track team.

10. Simona Krupeckaitė (b. 1982)

With an HPI of 30.11, Simona Krupeckaitė is the 10th most famous Lithuanian Cyclist.  Her biography has been translated into 19 different languages.

Simona Krupeckaitė (born 13 December 1982) is a Lithuanian former professional track cyclist. She is the 2009 500 m Time Trial World Champion and World Record holder at 33.296s, and the 2010 Keirin World Champion. She also won the 2009, 2010 and 2016 Lithuanian Sportsperson of the Year award. In 2010 Krupeckaitė reached one more world record. This time she achieved 10.793 s record at Flying 200 m time trial event. She retired from competition after the conclusion of the 2021 UCI Track Champions League in December of that year.