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| Slovenian cyclist Tadej Pogacar celebrates on the podium after winning the 113th edition of the Tour de France in Paris, France, July 26, 2026. /VCG |
Tadej Pogacar claimed a record-tying fifth Tour de France title, while Mathieu van der Poel won a sensational 21st and final stage around Paris to close out the 113th edition of the race on Sunday.
Two-time world champion Pogacar joined Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain as the most successful riders in the history of cycling's most famous event.
The Slovenian had all but secured his historic title during the previous two mountain stages that finished on the iconic Alpe d'Huez.
Pogacar, who won five stages, had held the overall leader's yellow jersey since topping the sixth stage in the Pyrenees during the race's first week. With 26 stage victories in his career, he now ranks fourth on the all-time list behind Mark Cavendish (35), Merckx (34) and Hinault (28).
The 27-year-old also surpassed both Indurain and Chris Froome for total days spent in the yellow jersey with 70, and now trails only Hinault (75) and Merckx (96).
Pogacar is the youngest rider to win five Tours, and is more than a year younger than Merckx was when he achieved the same feat. He is also the first competitor to finish on the podium seven times in a row.
His ninth consecutive Grand Tour podium marked another historic first.
The UAE Team Emirates XRG cyclist appeared to relish his part in a stunning final stage, which was shortened to 88.7 kilometers due to wildfires in southwest France.
Van der Poel and Pogacar pulled away together on the final climb up Montmartre with 10 kilometers remaining, before fighting to the finish with a group of chasing sprinters closing in.
As Pogacar's strength sapped in the last 700 meters, and with the pack just seconds behind, Dutch rider Van der Poel went at it alone.
The cobbled classics specialist held on to win by a length of just half-a-wheel, in a photo finish alongside Alpecin Premier Tech teammate Jasper Philipsen of Belgium, while Denmark's Mads Pedersen took third place.
Source(s): AFP
- CGTN
