Pogacar’s Dominance and Historical Context
Tadej Pogacar, at 27 years old, has achieved his fifth overall victory in the Tour de France, joining an elite group of cyclists. His win on the Champs Élysées on Sunday evening places him alongside cycling legends Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, and Miguel Induráin. This latest triumph marks his third consecutive Tour win, further solidifying his position in the sport’s history.
Pogacar’s performance has been described as “untouchable, implacable and unbending” by some French media. He is the youngest of the five-time winners to achieve this feat, completing his successes in just under 404 hours of racing. In comparison, Anquetil took almost 613 hours for his five wins. Pogacar’s average speed of 41.99kmh is also noted as faster than any other five-time winner, and he has secured more mountain stage victories.
Over the 16,911km he has ridden during his five victories, Pogacar spent nearly 9,500km in the yellow jersey. This includes taking the lead in his first Tour win in 2020 on the penultimate day. His career includes wins in major races such as the Tour of Flanders, Giro d’Italia, Milan-San Remo, Road World Championships, Giro di Lombardia, and Liège-Bastogne-Liège. The only major races he has yet to win are Paris-Roubaix and the Vuelta a España, which is scheduled to begin in Monaco on 22 August.
Team Success and Emerging Talent
Pogacar’s team, UAE Emirates XRG, also celebrated significant success, earning €832,750 in prize money. His teammate, Isaac del Toro, finished third overall, securing a spot on the Paris podium. Del Toro, at 22 years old, also claimed the white jersey for the best young rider, a position he consolidated with assistance from Pogacar during the ‘queen’ stage to Alpe d’Huez.
French cyclists had a mixed experience in the Tour. While there were no home stage wins for only the third time, three French riders finished in the top 10: Paul Seixas, Lenny Martinez, and Jordan Jegat. Seixas, a 19-year-old rider, finished fourth in the general classification despite starting the Tour recovering from a June crash and a cold. He expressed disappointment at missing the podium but found motivation in Pogacar’s performance, stating it would inspire him to work harder.
The final stage in Paris saw a thrilling finish, with Mathieu van der Poel of Alpecin-Premier Tech taking the stage victory. The stage, reduced from 133km to 89km due to emergency services being redirected to wildfires in south-west France, featured a circuit over Montmartre hill. Van der Poel, a classics specialist, charged away with 11km remaining alongside Pogacar, ultimately securing the win ahead of a chasing pack.
Records and Future Outlook
Pogacar’s dominance extends to breaking speed records. On Friday afternoon, he surpassed Marco Pantani’s Alpe d’Huez climbing time, covering the 13.8km in 35 minutes and 27 seconds, which was 1.05 quicker than Pantani’s 1995 ascent. His team’s sports director, Matxin Fernández, noted that while records are not the primary focus, they contribute to the magnitude of the ride. Pogacar also set a new record for the Col du Tourmalet, beating his own previous record from 2023.
This year’s Tour de France has been the fastest in the race’s history, averaging 43.326kph over its 3,321km, surpassing the previous fastest average from last year by 0.5kph. Factors contributing to increased speeds include advancements in bicycle technology, equipment, and athlete ability, as well as improved nutrition and training systems. Mauro Gianetti, UAE Team Emirates principal, highlighted the immense increase in quality of bicycle components, tyres, helmets, and kit in the last five years.
The future plans for Pogacar include an expected start in the Vuelta a España. However, the plans for his rival, Jonas Vingegaard, remain unclear after he crashed out of the Tour and was visited by doping control at 2am. The International Testing Agency conducted nocturnal doping controls on both riders, though no results have been made public. Despite Pogacar’s achievements, some reports suggest that maintaining credibility for the Tour and for Pogacar himself presents a challenge greater than any record.
Source: theguardian.com
Leo Ashworth is a Sports News Writer at Latest News UK. He cut his teeth on regional sport before specialising in fast breaking-news writing. He focuses on rugby union, golf and boxing and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. He holds a degree in Journalism from the University of Central Lancashire and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Newcastle, he follows the European Tour and boxes at an amateur gym. “Get it right first, then tell readers why it matters.”