Tadej Pogacar cemented his place among cycling’s all-time greats on Sunday, securing a fourth Tour de France title in Paris with a commanding overall performance, as Wout van Aert claimed a rain-soaked and dramatic final stage on the Champs-Elysees.
The 26-year-old Slovenian, already a champion in 2020, 2021 and 2024, joins Britain’s Chris Froome on four Tour titles and now stands just one shy of the record jointly held by Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, Jacques Anquetil and Miguel Indurain.
“Just speechless to win a fourth Tour de France,” Pogacar said. “Six years in a row on the podium and this one feels especially amazing. I’m super proud that I can wear this yellow jersey.”
Though the general classification had been effectively sealed days earlier — following Pogacar’s brutal assault in the Pyrenees and dominant display in the uphill time trial — the final stage proved anything but ceremonial.
With hazardous road conditions and persistent rain in Paris, organisers neutralised the race timings with 50km remaining, but the battle for the stage win remained fiercely contested. Pogacar, never one to settle for procession, attacked on the final three climbs up Montmartre, but was eventually undone by a powerful counter from Van Aert.
The Belgian launched a searing solo effort to take the final stage, ahead of Italy’s Davide Ballerini and Slovenia’s Matej Mohoric, with Pogacar finishing fourth after falling just short of an audacious final flourish.
Pogacar’s overall win was never in doubt. His decisive move came with a blistering attack on the climb to Hautacam, followed by a clinical performance in the individual time trial. He finished 4 minutes and 24 seconds ahead of Denmark’s Jonas Vingegaard — the two-time champion and his closest rival in recent years.
Florian Lipowitz of Germany, riding his debut Tour, finished third overall, 11 minutes adrift of Pogacar. The 23-year-old also claimed the white jersey as best young rider, capping a breakthrough campaign.
“This was one of the hardest Tours I’ve ever been in,” Pogacar admitted, after also securing the polka-dot jersey for best climber — underlining his all-round supremacy.
Italy’s Jonathan Milan won the green jersey for the points classification, consistently finishing high in the sprint stages to see off the likes of Arnaud Démare and Jasper Philipsen.
For Ineos Grenadiers, the final podium proved elusive. Though Thymen Arensman salvaged some pride with two stage victories, the team once synonymous with Tour dominance endured another underwhelming campaign. Geraint Thomas, the 2018 winner, rode what is expected to be his final Tour in relative anonymity, as questions continue to swirl around the team amid recent doping allegations.
As per tradition, riders rolled into Paris in a celebratory mood, sipping champagne and posing for cameras, but the final stage delivered a sting in the tail. The triple climb of the Butte Montmartre in slippery conditions turned the final laps into a mini-classic — a fitting end to one of the most fiercely contested Tours in recent memory.
With Hungary and the Vuelta a España still to come this season, all eyes will remain on Pogacar — the undisputed leader of a new generation of cycling legends.