Pogacar secures fifth Tour de France title as Van der Poel wins final stage sprint
Tadej Pogacar has claimed his fifth Tour de France title, matching a record held by cycling legends. The Slovenian rider secured his victory on Sunday, concluding a race marked by challenging conditions and intense competition. The final stage saw a dramatic sprint finish on the Champs-Élysées, where Mathieu van der Poel emerged victorious.
Pogacar’s fifth win places him alongside Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, and Miguel Indurain in the history of the Tour’s most successful cyclists. The 27-year-old demonstrated his dominance through daring mountain attacks and multiple stage wins, ultimately finishing 6 minutes, 26 seconds ahead of Remco Evenepoel in the overall standings.
The 2026 Tour de France was staged amidst heatwaves and wildfires, with the final 88.7-kilometer stage in Paris being shortened and its starting point changed to reduce pressure on emergency services. This adjustment meant the stage began in Paris rather than Thoiry, west of the capital.
Dramatic Final Stage in Paris
The final stage, though largely processional for the overall classification, delivered an exciting sprint finish. Mathieu van der Poel, who had been thinking about this moment since watching the stage from home last year due to illness, launched a decisive attack. He broke clear with Pogacar on the final climb of the Butte de Montmartre, a sharp 1-kilometer dash that riders tackled three times.
Van der Poel’s effort saw him hold off the chasing pack by a tire’s width, securing his second stage win of this year’s race and his fourth overall. He described the stage as “super hard” and expressed respect for Pogacar, acknowledging he thought they would be caught by the peloton. Despite Pogacar fading in the closing meters, Van der Poel pushed through the final 500m, ultimately winning with a lunge on the line ahead of his teammate Jasper Philipsen and Mads Pedersen.
The stage featured the popular uphill climb through the Montmartre district for the second consecutive year. Crowds cheered as riders ascended Rue Lepic, with the Sacré-Coeur basilica overlooking the route. Pogacar and Van der Poel surged ahead after the third and final climb, showcasing their strength before the final sprint.
Pogacar’s Dominance and Future Goals
Pogacar’s performance included five stage wins in this year’s race, bringing his total to 26 overall. His UAE Team Emirates XRG teammate, Isaac Del Toro, a 22-year-old Mexican making his Tour debut, finished third overall, 9 minutes, 42 seconds behind Pogacar, and also secured the white jersey for the best young rider.
Richard Carapaz, the 33-year-old Ecuadorian veteran, successfully defended the polka-dot jersey for the best climber, marking his second career win in that classification. Mads Pedersen, the green jersey winner as best sprinter, was also a strong contender in the final stage.
Pogacar reflected on his achievement, stating, “I’m speechless. It’s an incredible day, there was an incredible atmosphere.” He acknowledged that his main rival, two-time Tour champion Jonas Vingegaard, crashed out on the 15th stage, expressing hope that they could compete again next year. With this fifth victory, Pogacar now looks for new goals, mentioning the upcoming Spanish Vuelta, which starts on August 22, as a possibility.
Merckx, an 81-year-old Belgian cycling icon, believes Pogacar will continue to break records, stating, “He’ll soon break our record for Tour victories.” Pogacar’s consistent performance, having finished on the podium in all seven Tours he has ridden, underscores his status as one of cycling’s greats.
The final podium saw Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) in first, Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) in second, and Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) in third. Lidl-Trek secured the team classification, maintaining their over half-hour advantage on UAE Team Emirates-XRG.
Source: theguardian.com
