Tadej Pogacar has officially secured his fifth Tour de France title, equaling a long-standing record. The Slovenian cyclist’s victory was confirmed on Sunday, following a dramatic final stage that saw Mathieu van der Poel claim a sprint win on the Champs-Élysées.
Pogacar’s achievement places him alongside cycling legends such as Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, and Miguel Indurain, who also boast five Tour de France victories. The 27-year-old cyclist concluded the race with a significant lead, finishing 6 minutes, 26 seconds ahead of Remco Evenepoel in the overall standings.
The final stage, though shortened, delivered an exciting finish. Van der Poel secured his second stage win of the race in a photo finish, narrowly holding off the chasing pack of sprinters after breaking away with Pogacar on the final climb of the Butte de Montmartre.
A Record-Equalling Achievement
Pogacar’s dominance throughout the 2026 Tour de France was evident, marked by daring mountain attacks and multiple stage wins. He accumulated five stage victories in this year’s race, bringing his total career stage wins to 26. His consistent performance and composure were key to his record-tying fifth title.
The Slovenian rider expressed his excitement, stating, “I’m speechless. It’s an incredible day, there was an incredible atmosphere.” He also acknowledged the absence of key rivals, including two-time Tour champion Jonas Vingegaard, who crashed out on the 15th stage. Pogacar hopes for a renewed challenge in future races.
Isaac Del Toro, a 22-year-old Mexican making his Tour debut as Pogacar’s UAE Team Emirates XRG teammate, secured third place overall, finishing 9 minutes, 42 seconds behind Pogacar. Richard Carapaz, a 33-year-old Ecuadorian veteran, successfully defended his polka-dot jersey as the best climber for the second time in his career.
Dramatic Final Stage in Paris
The 88.7-kilometer (55-mile) final stage in Paris, which was shortened from 133 kilometers and had its starting point changed due to wildfires, featured three ascensions of the Montmartre district. This provided a challenging element to what is often a processional final stage.
Van der Poel’s victory on the Champs-Élysées was hard-fought. He attacked on the third and final climb with Pogacar, and despite being caught with 700 meters remaining, Van der Poel managed to surge ahead in the closing moments. He crossed the line just ahead of Jasper Philipsen and Mads Pedersen.
Van der Poel reflected on his win, noting he had been thinking about this moment since watching the stage on television last year due to illness. He described the effort as “super hard” and a dream come true, especially competing against Pogacar.
Looking Ahead
Pogacar’s victory adds to his growing list of achievements, which includes winning the Giro d’Italia in 2024. Despite his success, he indicated that he is already looking for new goals. When asked about participating in the Spanish Vuelta, which begins on August 22, he responded, “Let’s see.”
The women’s Tour de France is set to begin on August 1 in Lausanne, Switzerland, and will conclude on August 9 in Nice. This nine-stage race will feature Pauline Ferrand-Prévôt, who won on her debut last year.
Source: theguardian.com
Mason Reed
Sports reporter covering football, basketball and international competitions.