Tadej Pogačar Triumphs Again: A Bold Journey to His Fourth Tour de France Victory

PARIS (AP) — Heavy rain made the roads slippery, but Tadej Pogačar was undeterred. He had already secured his fourth Tour de France title, and finishing safely was all that was needed. However, caution isn’t really his style.

At just 26, Pogačar took the race by storm once again. Even with victory almost guaranteed, he couldn’t hold back. In a surprising move, he launched aggressive uphill attacks in the final stage, despite treacherous conditions. Though he didn’t clinch the stage win, his determination was clear.

“In the end, I found myself in front, even though I didn’t have the energy,” Pogačar reflected. “Winning the Tour feels amazing. I’m super proud to wear the yellow jersey.”

Jonas Vingegaard, his main rival, finished well behind in second place, while Florian Lipowitz took third. Belgian Wout van Aert won the last stage, which broke with tradition to include ascents of Montmartre, a challenging route known for its steep climbs and cobbled streets.

Due to safety concerns from the rain, organizers neutralized the race 50 kilometers from the end, simplifying the finish for Pogačar. Instead of playing it safe, he pushed himself on the Montmartre climbs, drawing cheers from fans.

Only five cyclists remained with him on the last climb. After initially fending off Matteo Jorgenson, Pogačar was overtaken by Van Aert, who made a stunning move to win the stage. “Hats off to Wout, he was incredibly strong,” Pogačar admitted, showing sportsmanship despite his own fatigue.

After crossing the line at fourth, Pogačar shifted his focus to celebration. “I just want peace and some nice weather,” he said, hinting he prefers quiet moments over loud festivities.

This victory places him among cycling legends—only four riders have won the Tour five times. Pogačar has marked himself as a force in the sport, with four stage wins this year, bringing his total to 21 in the Tour.

His teammate and rising star, Lipowitz, demonstrated his potential with a podium finish, hinting at a bright future in cycling.

Traditionally, the final stage is mostly ceremonial, with a casual ride around Paris. This year, however, the course change was inspired by the success of the Olympic road race held in Montmartre.

Pogačar and Vingegaard have consistently been the top two finishers in recent years, pushing each other to new heights. They have finished 1-2 for five years in a row, with mutual respect evident in their remarks.

While Pogačar has claimed the Giro d’Italia, he still seeks a win at the Spanish Vuelta, a feat accomplished by some of the sport’s greatest. This year, he hit a milestone with his 100th professional victory during the Tour, a testament to his prowess.

Looking ahead, he aspires to conquer iconic races like Paris-Roubaix and Milan-San Remo. With challenging features, Paris-Roubaix is known as “The Hell of the North” due to its cobblestone sections. Pogačar debuted there recently, but the win went to Mathieu van der Poel, who also triumphed in Milan-San Remo.

As he plans for the next season, fans can expect a motivated Pogačar eager to tackle these new challenges.

Read more about Tour de France coverage at AP News and details on the 2025 race stages.

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Tadej Pogacar, Cycling, Tour de France, Florian Lipowitz, Jonas Vingegaard, AP Top News, Sports, Marco Pantani, Bernard Hinault, Paris, Matteo Jorgenson, Slovenia, Mathieu van der Poel, Eddy Merckx