Tadej Pogačar strengthened his place among cycling’s greatest riders by winning his fifth Tour de France title in Paris. The 27 year old Slovenian controlled the three week race with bold attacks, five stage victories, and another commanding performance in the mountains. His latest triumph places him alongside four legends who also won the Tour five times.
A Fifth Yellow Jersey Secures His Place in History
Pogačar entered the final stage with a comfortable lead and completed the race 6 minutes and 26 seconds ahead of Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel. UAE Team Emirates XRG teammate Isaac del Toro finished third, 9 minutes and 42 seconds behind the champion during his first Tour de France appearance.
The victory made Pogačar only the fifth rider to win the Tour five times. He joined Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, and Miguel Indurain in one of cycling’s most exclusive groups. It was also Pogačar’s third Tour victory in a row, following his earlier wins in 2020 and 2021.
“I’m speechless. It’s an incredible day,” Pogačar said after completing the final stage and celebrating with his teammates on the Champs Élysées.
Mountain Attacks Define Another Dominant Tour
Pogačar’s overall victory was built through aggressive racing rather than defensive riding. He repeatedly attacked his rivals in the mountains, won five stages, and increased his career Tour de France stage total to 26.
His strongest expected challenger, two time Tour winner Jonas Vingegaard, left the race after crashing during Stage 15. The withdrawal removed the rider most likely to challenge Pogačar in the final week, although the Slovenian had already established himself as the strongest competitor in the race.
Pogačar expressed disappointment that the race could not end with all the leading contenders still competing.
“I hope we can all fight again next year,” Pogačar said while discussing Vingegaard and the other riders forced out by crashes.
Van der Poel Wins a Dramatic Paris Finale
Although Pogačar secured the overall title, Mathieu van der Poel claimed victory in the final stage. The Dutch rider survived a close finish on the Champs Élysées, beating Jasper Philipsen and Mads Pedersen after a demanding circuit through Paris.
The stage included three climbs through Montmartre, creating more opportunities for attacks than the traditional flat Paris finale. Pogačar joined the action and briefly moved toward the front, but Van der Poel had enough strength remaining to take his second stage victory of the 2026 Tour.
The route was shortened from 133 kilometres to 88.7 kilometres because some French security personnel were reassigned to support emergency services responding to wildfires in southwestern France.
New Goals Await Cycling’s Leading Star
Pogačar has now won five Tours and the 2024 Giro d’Italia, but he has not yet claimed the Vuelta a España. When asked whether he would compete in the Spanish Grand Tour, which begins on August 22, he offered only a brief response: “Let’s see.”
The Slovenian also appeared unsure about which major target should come next after reaching one of the sport’s greatest milestones.
“I don’t know how I do it,” Pogačar said while reflecting on his continued success and the need to find another goal.
Pogačar’s Legacy Continues to Grow
Pogačar’s fifth Tour de France victory confirms that he is already one of the most successful cyclists in history. His ability to win mountain stages, time trials, Grand Tours, and major one day races has separated him from most riders of his generation.
Now level with the Tour’s four previous record holders and still only 27, Pogačar has the opportunity to move ahead of every former champion. Whether his next goal is the Vuelta, another major classic, or a record breaking sixth Tour title, his place among cycling’s greatest names is already secure.
