Tadej Pogacar has claimed his fifth Tour de France title, matching the record held by four other riders. The UAE Team Emirates-XRG cyclist crossed the finish line on Paris’ Champs-Elysees as part of the peloton, joining Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, and Miguel Indurain in achieving this milestone. Pogacar described his achievement as something that “you wouldn’t even maybe write in a story book.”
The final stage of the three-week Grand Tour saw Mathieu van der Poel of Alpecin-Premier Tech secure victory in a sprint finish on the cobbled streets of Paris. Van der Poel edged out his teammate Jasper Philipsen. Pogacar’s win marks his third consecutive Tour de France victory and included a record-breaking ascent of Alpe d’Huez during stage 19, where he sealed a dominant win. This was one of his five stage victories in the race, showcasing his explosive starts and consistent pace.
A historic achievement and future outlook
Pogacar’s performance has led many to consider him among the greatest cyclists of all time. His career boasts 127 wins over an eight-year period, encompassing major races such as the Tour of Flanders, Giro d’Italia, Milan-San Remo, Road World Championships, Giro di Lombardia, and Liege-Bastogne-Liege. Despite his success, some fans have expressed frustration, feeling that his dominance reduces the competitive aspect of the sport.
Following his victory, Pogacar expressed his happiness, stating, “Victory is really special.” He thanked his fans, team, and especially his family for their support throughout his life. He also acknowledged the absence of rivals like Jonas Vingegaard, who crashed out of the race, wishing them a quick recovery for future competitions.
The final stage, typically a ceremonial ride for overall contenders, featured a circuit that included a cobbled climb over Montmartre hill. This change encouraged more powerful riders to compete for the stage win. Van der Poel’s strength was evident as he charged away with Pogacar with 11km remaining. The pair navigated the narrow lanes past Sacre-Coeur before Pogacar, after three weeks of intense racing, began to show signs of fatigue.
Van der Poel managed to maintain his lead against a chasing pack of sprinters, crossing the line and collapsing from exhaustion. This prestigious victory adds to his collection of wins in major one-day races, including multiple victories in Paris-Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders. The stage itself was shortened from 133km to 89km due to the redeployment of emergency services to assist with wildfires in south-west France.
Rivals and other jersey winners
Pogacar’s main rival, Jonas Vingegaard, who won the Tour in 2022 and 2023, abandoned the race after breaking his collarbone on stage 15. This incident led to scrutiny of the International Testing Agency (ITA), which had conducted an anti-doping test on Vingegaard at 2am. Other riders, including Pogacar, were also tested at unusual hours, with the ITA citing “exceptional circumstances” for the night tests.
Another significant competitor was Remco Evenepoel of Red Bull-Bora-Hansgohe, who finished six minutes 26 seconds behind Pogacar in the general classification. Pogacar’s teammate, Isaac del Toro, secured third place overall and the white jersey for the best young rider. Del Toro’s success was partly due to Pogacar’s strategic support, including sacrificing a potential stage victory on Alpe d’Huez to help consolidate Del Toro’s podium position. Del Toro’s win came at the expense of Paul Seixas, a 19-year-old French rider from Decathlon-CMA CGM, who faded on the climbs.
Other jersey winners included Richard Carapaz of EF Education-Easypost, who claimed the king of the mountains’ polka dot jersey after winning stages 18 and 20. Mads Pedersen of Lidl-Trek earned the green points jersey through consistent riding and a stage four victory. Tom Pidcock of Pinarello-Q36.5 finished ninth in the general classification, building on his third-place finish in last year’s Vuelta a Espana. British rider Adam Yates also showed tenacity, assisting Pogacar on stage 19 despite falling ill earlier in the race.
Pogacar, despite his monumental achievement, remains grounded. He stated he is not focused on historical records but rather on enjoying the moment and the “small things in life.” He plans to return home for a criterium race in his hometown of Komenda, Slovenia, which will raise money for his charity, the Tadej Pogacar Foundation. He is also considering whether to participate in the Vuelta a España, which begins on August 22 in Monaco.
Source: bbc.co.uk
George Hartwell is the Senior Football Correspondent at News-GB.org, covering the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side with twelve years of reporting experience. He reported on West Country football before national coverage. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from the University of the West of England and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Bristol, he watches grassroots football and writes a tactics column. “Tactics tell you more than any scoreline.”