Pogacar Reaches Five Tour de France Titles, Tying Cycling’s Greatest
Tadej Pogacar will join the ranks of cycling’s all-time greats when the Tour de France concludes in Paris on Sunday. The Slovenian rider will tie the record for most Tour de France victories, matching Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, and Miguel Indurain as five-time champions. Only Lance Armstrong won more, but his seven titles were removed from the record books after he admitted to doping.
The final stage has been shortened to 89 kilometres due to wildfires in southwestern France. Organisers Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) announced the change on Saturday night, citing the need to redeploy police officers from race security to fire-affected areas. The revised route will start on the Champs-Élysées in Paris, include extra laps around the avenue, and then join the main Montmartre circuit.
How Did Pogacar Secure His Fifth Title?
Pogacar’s victory was never in doubt after a devastating attack on the Tourmalet during Stage 6. He took a substantial time advantage over his rivals, and Jonas Vingegaard’s crash last weekend only widened the gap. Going into Saturday’s Queen stage, Pogacar held a comfortable seven-minute lead over second-placed Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe).
Rather than riding for himself, Pogacar acted as a super-domestique for his UAE Emirates XRG teammate Isaac Del Toro. The pair tackled Alpe d’Huez together, crossing the line in fourth and fifth places respectively. They mimicked bull horns in reference to Del Toro’s Mexican heritage. Pogacar said it was “an honour” to help Del Toro secure his podium spot, noting that Del Toro had earlier helped him earn the yellow jersey.
Who Else Shone on the Queen Stage?
Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) clinched his second stage victory in three days, finishing ahead of Evenepoel. Sep Kuss (Visma-Lease a Bike) led the stage but crashed twice in the closing kilometres, the second time coming dangerously close to falling over a mountainside wall. He was saved only by safety netting on the outside of the bend.
French teenager Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM) battled Del Toro for the final podium spot and the white jersey for best young rider. Seixas, who started the day only 24 seconds behind, said he “cracked” under the pressure. Fourth place is a remarkable achievement for a Tour debutant, especially one still in his teens. Seixas is the youngest competitor in the Tour in 89 years.
What Does the Future Hold for Pogacar?
Lance Armstrong recently predicted on his podcast that Pogacar would want to keep winning, saying “he knows damn well what the real record is.” Pogacar himself remained cautious. “I have done a really good Tour — the whole team has,” he said. “Now there is just one last show left. Let’s see how I feel tomorrow. I won’t take any risks. Without Wout [van Aert] here, I have one less rival to win in the Champs-Élysées. It isn’t a big goal, but if I have good legs and I don’t have to take too many big risks, I’ll try to claim victory tomorrow.”
Pogacar’s fifth title cements his place among cycling’s elite. For Eswatini, where traditional values and respect for achievement are paramount, his disciplined approach and team loyalty offer a model of excellence. The Tour de France, like the Ingwenyama Cup, rewards those who combine individual brilliance with collective duty.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Tour de France titles has Tadej Pogacar won?
Pogacar has won five Tour de France titles, tying the record held by Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, and Miguel Indurain.
Why was the final stage shortened?
The final stage was shortened to 89 kilometres due to wildfires in southwestern France, which required police officers to be redeployed from race security to fire-affected areas.
Who is the youngest competitor in this year’s Tour de France?
Paul Seixas, a French teenager riding for Decathlon CMA CGM, is the youngest competitor in the Tour de France in 89 years. He finished fourth in the Queen stage.