Tadej Pogacar Wins Tour de France for Third Time
In a dominant display, Slovenian cyclist Tadej Pogacar has won the Tour de France for the third time, becoming the first rider to secure the Giro d’Italia and Tour de France in the same year since Marco Pantani in 1998. Pogacar, 25, rode to victory in the 34-kilometer time trial on the French Riviera, finishing in 45 minutes and 24 seconds.
Pogacar’s victory was never in doubt, as he held a lead of over five minutes going into the final stage. His main rival, Jonas Vingegaard of Denmark, was unable to challenge him, finishing 6:17 behind Pogacar in second place. Belgian rider Remco Evenepoel took third place, 9:18 behind Pogacar.
Pogacar’s win was a testament to his incredible form throughout the race. He won six stages, including the final time trial, and became the second rider to win five mountain stages in a single Tour de France, after Italian rider Gino Bartali in 1948.
The Tour de France did not finish in Paris as usual, due to the Olympic Games being held in the city. Instead, the final stage ended in Nice, where fans had camped out along the Promenade des Anglais to catch a glimpse of the cyclists.
Pogacar’s victory was met with jubilation, as he celebrated with his UAE Team Emirates teammates. “To win both together is another level above,” he said. “I think this is the first Grand Tour where I was totally confident every day. Even at the Giro I remember I had one bad day. This year, the Tour was just amazing. I was enjoying it from day one.”
Vingegaard, who was hospitalized for nearly two weeks in April following a high-speed crash in the Tour of the Basque Country, finished second overall. Despite his disappointment, he was philosophical about his performance. “Under normal circumstances, I would be disappointed with my Tour de France. But, after everything I’ve gone through, I can’t be disappointed,” he said. “I would have loved to go a bit further, but it is what it is. I would like to come back to the Tour de France and win it again… I believe the yellow jersey is the most beautiful jersey in road cycling.”
The Tour de France also saw Ecuadorian Richard Carapaz win the best climber’s polka dot jersey, while Eritrea’s Biniam Girmay won the top sprinter’s green jersey. The 24-year-old Remco Evenepoel capped off a fine debut Tour with the white jersey for best young rider.
In the end, Pogacar’s dominance was too much for his rivals, and he rode to a well-deserved victory in the Tour de France.
