Pogacar wins fifth Tour title amid Paris finish drama
Slovenian Tadej Pogacar claimed his fifth Tour de France title, equalling the all-time record, as Mathieu van der Poel triumphed in the chaotic final stage in Paris.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Tadej Pogacar secured his fifth Tour de France title, equalling the record for most wins.
- The 27-year-old UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider claimed his third consecutive victory.
- Mathieu van der Poel won the prestigious final stage over the Montmartre cobbles.
- The final stage was shortened from 133km to 89km due to wildfires in south-west France.
Slovenian cyclist Tadej Pogacar, 27, riding for UAE Team Emirates-XRG, has etched his name further into cycling history by winning the Tour de France for a record-equalling fifth time. Crossing the finish line on Paris' Champs-Elysees within the peloton, Pogacar joined cycling icons Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, and Miguel Indurain as the endurance event's most successful male riders.
This historic triumph positions Pogacar in the eyes of many as the greatest cyclist of all time, surpassing the achievements and status of Belgian legend Eddy Merckx. It also marks Pogacar's third consecutive Tour victory, highlighted by a record-breaking ascent of the iconic Alpe d'Huez on stage 19, sealing another dominant performance. It was the last of five stage wins in a race where Pogacar utilized his explosive acceleration and unmatchable metronomic pace to completely overwhelm his rivals.
Despite his undeniable dominance, Pogacar faced boos from some spectators during the race, as his performances often left his peers far behind, frustrating fans who felt the sport was losing its competitive edge. Pogacar now boasts 127 victories across an eight-year elite professional career.
"Pero el mayor agradecimiento va para toda mi familia que me apoya toda mi vida. Mis padres - sin ellos no estaría aquí cinco veces ya."
The famous final stage in Paris, typically a straightforward flat sprint for the overall contenders, featured the revamped circuit introduced by organisers ASO last year. This route takes riders over a cobbled climb on the city's famous Montmartre hill, encouraging heavier and more powerful riders to fight for the win. On Sunday, classics powerhouse Mathieu van der Poel charged away with 11km remaining alongside Pogacar. The duo navigated the narrow lanes past Sacre-Coeur before Van der Poel managed to hold off a rapidly closing chasing pack, eventually crossing the line and collapsing under a barrier to recover.
The Tour de France continues to navigate complex logistical and regulatory hurdles, highlighted this year by the emergency shortening of the final stage from 133km to 89km to free up emergency services tackling wildfires in south-west France. Moreover, pre-race and mid-race scrutiny intensified around anti-doping protocols after riders like Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar were subjected to rare and controversial 2am and 5am night-time testing by the International Testing Agency (ITA).
Pogacar's closest general classification rival was the much-improved Belgian Remco Evenepoel of Red Bull-Bora-Hansgohe, who finished six minutes and 26 seconds behind overall. Third place went to Pogacar's Mexican teammate Isaac del Toro, who secured the white jersey for the best young rider after 19-year-old French star Paul Seixas faded substantially during the closing weekend.
Source: BBC Sport
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