Tadej Pogačar confirmed his status as one of cycling’s all-time greats after winning a record-equalling fifth Tour de France title in emphatic style.
Daring mountain attacks from deep, multiple stage wins and an ice-cool temperament all helped the 27-year-old Slovenian seal his victory overnight. He joined Belgian Eddy Merckx, Spaniard Miguel Indurain and Frenchmen Jacques Anquetil and Bernard Hinault as the only riders to win five Tours.
“I’m speechless. It’s an incredible day, there was an incredible atmosphere,” Pogačar said.
“I’ve ridden seven Tours already, and I’ve always finished on the podium. You might think this is a fairytale, it’s incredible for me too.”
After competing strongly in the 21st and exciting final stage in Paris, Pogačar finished 6 minutes, 26 seconds ahead of Belgian rider Remco Evenepoel in the overall standings.
Two-time Tour champion Jonas Vingegaard was Pogačar’s main rival heading into the race, but the Dane crashed out on the 15th stage.
“Shame that Jonas and others crashed out of this Tour,” Pogačar said.
“I hope we can all fight again next year.”
Pogačar’s UAE Team Emirates XRG teammate Isaac Del Toro, a 22-year-old Mexican making his Tour debut, was third at 9:42 back from Pogačar, who smiled and held up his hand to signify his wins. His teammates then joined him as they stood proudly on the Champs-Élysées.
“I don’t know how I do it,” Pogačar said. “I now have to find a new goal to chase. Which goal? Let’s just not jump ahead of ourselves, and enjoy this moment.”
Pogačar won the Giro d’Italia in 2024 but has not won the Spanish Vuelta, which starts on August 22.
“Will I be at La Vuelta in a few weeks?” he said. “Let’s see.”
Pogačar won five stages at this year’s race to take his impressive tally to 26 overall.
He tried to win overnight too, but victory ultimately went to Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel, who just held off the chasing pack on the home straight for his second stage win at this year’s race and fourth overall.
The 88.7km stage looped around Paris and was mostly processional, although less so than in previous years, which were usually entirely flat stages for sprinters and not for the rest of the peloton.
The stage was shortened from 133km, and its starting point in Thoiry, west of the capital, was changed to Paris to reduce pressure on emergency services combating wildfires in the south-west. Some security forces initially mobilised for Paris were redeployed to help response efforts.
For the second straight year the stage featured the hugely popular uphill climb through the Montmartre district, a sharp 1km dash which riders tackled three times before finishing on the Champs-Élysées.
It proved even too much for Pogačar, who could not match Van der Poel’s raw power in the closing stages.
Shortly before 6pm local time, Pogačarshook hands at the start line with Evenepoel and Ecuadorian veteran Richard Carapaz, wearing the polka-dot jersey for the best climber.
“I battled hard to win this jersey, it was a great fight,” the 33-year-old Carapaz said. “It’s the best feeling to win it.”
Van der Poel and Dane Mads Pedersen, the green jersey winner as best sprinter, were among the expected contenders for the stage win.
Crowds roared as the riders began the first climb up Rue Lepic in Montmartre, with the famed Sacré-Coeur basilica looming over them.
Pogačar moved ahead after the second ascension of Montmartre, with Van der Poel, Evenepoel and Pedersen alongside him.
Van der Poel attacked on the third and final climb with Pogačar responding well, and the one-day classics rivals surged ahead.
But they were caught with 700 meters left and, after Pogačar faded, the 31-year-old Van der Poel still had work to do.
He got his bike just over the line ahead of Belgian Jasper Philipsen, his Alpecin-Premier Tech teammate, and Pedersen. Pogačar eased up and finished 30th.
“I thought the sprinters would catch us up, so I launched [my attack] from very far away,” Van der Poel said. “I gave everything I had left in my legs, and it was just enough.”
AP
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