Tadej Pogacar wins Tour de France for a record-equalling fifth time

Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia claimed his fifth Tour de France victory on Sunday, matching the all-time record held by four other cyclists. The 27-year-old rider, competing for UAE Team Emirates, completed his third consecutive title win by safely finishing the final stage into Paris. His achievement places him alongside Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, and Miguel Indurain in cycling history.

The final stage was won by Belgium's Mathieu van der Poel, who broke away with Pogacar on the final climb of Montmartre approximately 10 kilometres from the finish. Van der Poel ultimately prevailed in a close contest, with Jasper Philipsen finishing second and Mads Pedersen third on the stage. Remco Evenepoel of Belgium secured second place overall, while Mexico's Isaac del Toro completed the podium in third.

Pogacar demonstrated his dominance throughout the three-week race by claiming five stage victories. His path to victory became clearer when Jonas Vingegaard, a two-time Tour winner and considered his main rival, withdrew following a crash on Stage 15. The shortened final stage reflected security measures, as law enforcement resources were redirected to address wildfires near Bordeaux, reducing the traditional Paris finale from 133 kilometres to 89 kilometres.

The 2024 Tour produced a notable historical first: no rider from France, Italy, or Spain won any stage, marking the first time in the race's history that these three nations—which created and host the Grand Tours—failed to secure a stage victory. Pogacar's latest triumph reinforces his position as the dominant cyclist of his generation.