Tadej Pogacar just rewrote the record books, snatching his fifth Tour de France title and officially joining the absolute legends of endurance cycling. The 27-year-old UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider crossed the line on Paris’ Champs-Elysees, cementing his place alongside Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, and Miguel Indurain as the most successful male riders in the grueling three-week Grand Tour.
Pogacar’s Unstoppable Reign Cements GOAT Status
This victory isn’t just a record; it’s a declaration. Many are already calling Pogacar the greatest cyclist of all time, officially superseding the achievements and status of Belgian legend Merckx. This marks his third Tour win in succession, a truly mind-boggling run. Think about it: three straight! His ascent of the iconic Alpe d’Huez on stage 19 was record-breaking, sealing another dominant win and highlighting his explosive launch and unmatchable metronomic pace that his rivals simply have no answer for. He racked up four stage wins in this race alone and has won almost every major competition the sport has to offer, including the Tour of Flanders, Giro d’Italia, Milan-San Remo, Road World Championships, Giro di Lombardia, and Liege-Bastogne-Liege. With 126 wins in just an eight-year elite professional career, this guy is a machine.
Chaos on the Cobbles and the Bitter Taste of Dominance
While Pogacar was celebrating his overall triumph, the final stage on the Champs-Elysees was pure drama. The Netherlands’ Mathieu van der Poel of Alpecin-Premier Tech took the stage win in a frantic charge to the line on the French capital’s famous cobbles, pipping Denmark’s Mads Pedersen by mere inches. Organizers, ASO, changed the parcours this year to include a cobbled climb over Montmartre hill, encouraging powerful riders to challenge, and Van der Poel delivered. He charged away with 11km left, with Pogacar briefly right there with him. They led through those picturesque and narrow lanes, fans getting their phones knocked from their hands, before Pogacar finally showed a hint of fading after three weeks of relentless dominance. Van der Poel, known for his strength in one-day races, just barely held off a rapidly closing pack of sprinters, collapsing off his bike after the line, breathing heavily for minutes. Talk about leaving it all out there! But get this: despite Pogacar’s historic performance, some fans actually booed him during the Tour. They’re frustrated that his performances are so far ahead of his peers, feeling the sport is losing its competitive edge. Can you believe that? Someone is too good, so they get booed. Wild.
What’s Next for the Undisputed King?
“Victory is really special,” Pogacar said, giving huge thanks to his family, team, and fans. He called his journey “unbelievable,” noting seven Tours and seven podiums with five wins, something you “wouldn’t even maybe write in a story book.” He acknowledged the “magnificent podium with some incredible champions to fight with,” and genuinely wished Jonas Vingegaard and others a quick recovery, looking forward to fighting again next year. The stage itself was reduced from 133km to 89km due to emergency services being redirected to tackle wildfires in south-west France. So, what’s next? After a season like this, with a legacy being forged that’s truly unprecedented, everyone in cycling will be looking to see if anyone, anyone, can finally mount a consistent challenge to Pogacar’s reign in 2027. It’s going to be epic.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by BBC Sport.
Leave a Reply