Slovenian cyclist Tadej Pogačar has cemented his place among the sport's immortals by claiming his fifth Tour de France title on Sunday, crossing the finish line in Paris with an overall lead of 6 minutes 26 seconds over Belgian Remco Evenepoel. The 26-year-old, riding for UAE Team Emirates XRG, now stands alongside Eddy Merckx, Miguel Indurain, Jacques Anquetil, and Bernard Hinault as the only five-time winners of cycling's most prestigious race.
Pogačar's victory, while widely anticipated, was nonetheless remarkable for its margin and the depth of his season. He also won the Tours of Switzerland and Romandie, along with several major one-day classics, confirming his status as the dominant force in the world peloton. His teammate, 22-year-old Mexican Isaac del Toro, finished third overall in his debut Tour, a sign of the team's strength.
Van der Poel sprints to victory on the Champs-Élysées
The final stage, traditionally a ceremonial procession before a sprint finish, was anything but routine this year. Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel of Alpecin–Deceuninck won the stage after a breathtaking final lap on the Champs-Élysées, beating his Belgian teammate Jasper Philipsen and Dane Mads Pedersen. The victory was van der Poel's second career stage win in Paris, and it capped a Tour marked by his aggressive riding in the mountains and on the cobbles.
The 21st stage was shortened to 89 kilometres from the originally planned 133 due to wildfires in southwestern France, which forced organisers to reroute the race to free up emergency services. Riders set off from the Champs-Élysées, tackled three ascents of the Butte Montmartre, then returned to the famous avenue for the final sprint. The heatwave that has gripped much of the continent also affected earlier stages, with three stages altered due to fire risks.
Large crowds lined the streets of Paris despite the heat, reaffirming the capital's role as the heart of the Tour's finale. The atmosphere was charged, with fans cheering not only the winner but also the resilience of the riders and organisers in adapting to extreme weather conditions.
Pogačar's achievement places him in an exclusive club, but his age—26—suggests he could challenge Merckx's record of five overall wins (though Merckx also won multiple Grand Tours and classics). For now, the focus remains on a season that has seen him dominate the WorldTour calendar. The 2026 Tour will be remembered not only for his triumph but for the wildfires that reshaped its final week, a stark reminder of the climate challenges facing European sport.
