Tadej Pogačar wins fourth Tour de France title

PARIS — Tadej Pogačar claimed his fourth Tour de France title on Sunday, cementing his standing as probably the most dominant rider of his technology and becoming a member of Britain’s Chris Froome on the all-time winners’ listing.

The 26-year-old Slovenian, who beforehand triumphed in 2020, 2021 and 2024, delivered a near-flawless efficiency over three weeks, excelling in each division, even coming near prevailing on a spectacular remaining stage on the Champs-Élysées after an epic duel with Belgian Wout van Aert.

Pogačar had no must contest the stage win, particularly given the hazard of crashing on slick roads. Yet because the rain fell closely, he confirmed his relentless thirst for victory and attacked anyway, setting an amazing tempo within the Montmartre climbs as followers cheered.

Only 5 riders had been left with Pogačar on the third ascension of the 1.1-kilometer Montmartre hill, with Van Aert successful the twenty first stage.

“Just speechless to win the Tour de France; this one feels especially amazing,” Pogačar mentioned. “Just super proud that I can wear this yellow jersey.

“This was one of many hardest Tours I’ve ever been in.”

Two-time Tour champion Jonas Vingegaard finished the overall race 4 minutes, 24 seconds behind Pogačar in second place and Florian Lipowitz, making his Tour debut, was 11 minutes back in third.

It was the fifth straight year where Pogačar and Vingegaard finished 1-2 at the Tour.

“We’ve raised the extent of one another a lot larger, and we push one another to the restrict,” Pogačar said. “I need to say to him, large, large respect.”

The competitive element was largely neutralized Sunday after organizers decided to freeze the times with about 50 kilometers left in the stage due to hazardous road conditions in driving rain.

It did not prevent Pogačar from going for it, but Van Aert proved to be the best on the day, beating Italian Davide Ballerini and third-placed Matej Mohorič. Pogačar took fourth place.

“Hats off to Wout,” Pogačar said. “He was extremely sturdy.”

The world champion successfully sealed his victory within the Pyrenees, with a brutal assault on the climb to Hautacam and a commanding victory within the uphill particular person time trial, leaving Vingegaard greater than 4 minutes behind earlier than controlling the race.

With his newest triumph, Pogačar equals Froome (2013, 2015-17) and now solely trails biking greats Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, Jacques Anquetil and Miguel Induráin, who share the file with 5 titles.

Pogačar additionally secured the polka-dot jersey for the mountains classification, underlining his all-round dominance, whereas Italy’s Jonathan Milan clinched the inexperienced jersey for the factors competitors.

Lipowitz received the white jersey for the most effective U-25 rider.

Pogačar received 4 phases this yr to take his profession Tour tally to 21 and 30 at main races, together with six on the Giro d’Italia and three on the Spanish Vuelta.

He received the Giro d’Italia final yr to change into the primary bicycle owner to safe the Giro and Tour double in the identical season for the reason that late Marco Pantani in 1998. Pogačar has not but received the Spanish Vuelta, whereas Anquetil, Hinault and Merckx received all three main races.

Traditionally, the final stage of the Tour de France is basically processional with riders doing laps round Paris. The Tour broke with custom after the success of the Paris Olympics highway race, which additionally came about in Montmartre, well-known for its Sacré Coeur basilica.

Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.