Tadej Pogacar added his fifth Tour de France title by reaching the podium in Paris, equaling Eddy Merckx, Miguel Indurain, Jacques Anquetil and Bernard Hinault. The 27-year-old Slovenian finished 6 minutes and 26 seconds ahead of Belgian Remco Evenepoel, a time trial specialist.
The fall that marked the race
Pogacar’s great rival, Jonas Vingegaard, retired after a crash on stage 15. The Dane, winner in 2022 and 2023, could not repeat his feat of beating Pogacar by more than seven minutes as in 2023. Since then, Pogacar has won three consecutive Tours. Vingegaard only managed to wear the yellow jersey briefly, thanks to his team’s victory in the inaugural time trial in Barcelona.
Pogacar won five stages in this edition and has 26 in total. He needs 10 more to break Mark Cavendish’s record (35). It could achieve it in two years, since its maximum in a single edition is six (2024).
Can anyone challenge him?
Vingegaard, 29, still has time, but he needs to regain his level on the big climbs. Frenchman Paul Seixas, 19, was fourth in his debut and raises hopes in the country, 41 years after Hinault’s last triumph. Lenny Martínez (23) was fifth, although he missed an opportunity in Alpe d’Huez. Ecuadorian Richard Carapaz (33) won two stages, but was 20 minutes behind in the overall standings.
Only Evenepoel (26) seems to have options. He won stage 15 after Vingegaard fell and can beat Pogacar in the time trial, but he must improve in the mountains. His Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe team has financial backing. Meanwhile, the Mexican Isaac Del Toro (22) was third, but as Pogacar’s teammate on the UAE Team Emirates.
Anti-doping controls and controversy
Pogacar and Vingegaard were subjected to unannounced checks at 5 and 2 a.m. respectively. Evenepoel called the schedule “very disrespectful.” Pogacar suggested that fatigue may have played a role in Vingegaard’s fall, although he accepted that random testing improves transparency. The International Cycling Union commissioned the controls to the International Testing Agency, which ensured that the correct procedures were followed.
Chris Froome, winner of four Tours, supported the morning tests: “Our doors must always be open, no matter how uncomfortable it may be, to inspire confidence.” The shadow of the Armstrong scandal is still present, and cycling seeks to dispel doubts.
