Pogacar claims record-equalling fifth Tour de France title as Vingegaard withdraws
UAE Team Emirates-XRG cyclist secures general classification by six minutes and 26 seconds, while Mathieu van der Poel takes final stage honours in Paris.
Slovenian cyclist Tadej Pogacar has secured his fifth Tour de France title, equalling the all-time record held by Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain. The 27-year-old rider for UAE Team Emirates-XRG crossed the line on the Champs-Elysees to complete a three-week campaign defined by his metronomic pace and strategic dominance, positioning him as one of the sport’s most successful male riders.
Pogacar finished the general classification six minutes and 26 seconds ahead of Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel, with Mexican teammate Isaac del Toro taking third place. The victory marks Pogacar’s third consecutive win in the Grand Tour and brings his total stage wins in the 2026 race to four. His overall career tally now stands at 26 stage victories and 126 wins across an eight-year elite professional career.
The race’s competitive landscape shifted significantly when Denmark’s Jonas Vingegaard, the previous year’s winner, abandoned the event after crashing on stage 15. Vingegaard broke his collarbone on a bend, ending his challenge to Pogacar’s stranglehold on the race. The withdrawal drew attention to the International Testing Agency, which conducted anti-doping tests on Vingegaard at 2am and Pogacar at 5am, citing exceptional circumstances for the night-time inspections.
In a display of team strategy, Pogacar sacrificed his own potential victory on stage 19 to assist del Toro’s bid for a podium place. The Slovenian’s efforts on the brutal ascent of Alpe d’Huez helped consolidate del Toro’s position, although the white jersey for best young rider was ultimately claimed by 19-year-old Paul Seixas of Decathlon-CMA CGM, who finished fourth overall.
The final stage 21 was reduced from 133km to 89km due to the redirection of emergency services to tackle wildfires in south-west France. Dutch rider Mathieu van der Poel of Alpecin-Premier Tech won the stage after attacking on the Montmartre cobbles, pipping Denmark’s Mads Pedersen by inches in a frantic charge to the line. Pedersen secured the green points jersey, while Ecuador’s Richard Carapaz claimed the polka dot jersey for king of the mountains.
Pogacar’s performance has drawn mixed reactions, with some fans booing his dominance as they feel the sport is losing its competitive edge. However, the rider acknowledged the support of his family and team, noting the significance of standing on the podium five times. He expressed hope for a quick recovery for Vingegaard and other riders who crashed out, setting the stage for renewed competition in future seasons.
Other notable performances included Britain’s Tom Pidcock, who finished ninth in the general classification after consistent battling, and Adam Yates, who showed tenacity after falling ill on stage 16. The Netcompany Ineos Cycling team, formerly managed by Chris Froome, failed to record a stage victory in 21 attempts, while Tim Merlier of Soudal-Quick Step won three bunch sprint stages.
