Tadej Pogačar has made headlines once again by clinching his fourth Tour de France victory on Sunday, triumphing over rival Jonas Vingegaard with an impressive time gap of 4:24 at the iconic Champs-Élysées finish line. This year's race was marketed as a showdown between two cycling giants, filled with memories of Pogačar’s past battles—particularly on the challenging climbs of Hautacam, Mont Ventoux, and Col de la Loze—where he previously lost crucial time to Vingegaard. However, this time, Pogačar, representing UAE Team Emirates XRG, conquered each of these demanding ascents.
“Just speechless to win the Tour de France. This one feels especially amazing,” Pogačar expressed. “Just super proud that I can wear this yellow jersey.” Vingegaard, hailing from Denmark and racing for Visma–Lease a Bike, encountered significant setbacks early in the competition, particularly during the Stage 5 time trial, where a poor performance led to a loss of time from which he could not recover. Ultimately, he crossed the finish line 1:20 behind Pogačar.
Despite his struggles, Vingegaard continued to launch aggressive attacks and maintained a positive demeanor during media interviews. However, he was unable to match Pogačar’s superhuman abilities. “Battling against Jonas was a tough experience, but I must say to him, respect and big, big congratulations to him for his fight and incredible race,” Pogačar acknowledged. As of now, Vingegaard, a two-time Tour winner, has finished as runner-up to Pogačar three times and is set to compete in the Vuelta a España, Spain’s prestigious grand tour, in August.
On the final day, Belgian rider Wout van Aert, also part of Vingegaard's team, emerged victorious in a rainy stage that included three climbs around Montmartre, diverging from the customary ceremonial ride into Paris. Van Aert left spectators in awe as he executed a stunning attack in the last kilometer, successfully dropping Pogačar on the steepest incline. “We came to this tour with ambition to also win the yellow jersey, but the strongest rider in the race and biggest rider on the road won,” van Aert commented. “I’m proud of how we raced as a team, how we kept trying every day.”
German climber Florian Lipowitz from Red Bull–BORA–hansgrohe finished third in the general classification, trailing Pogačar by 11:09 and earning the white jersey for the best young rider. This achievement is particularly impressive as it marks his debut in the Tour. Initially expected to support teammate and Tour veteran Primož Roglič, Lipowitz, who is 11 years younger than the 35-year-old Roglič, ended up showcasing his strength throughout the event. Roglič, who has faced multiple crashes in past grand tours, expressed happiness in simply completing this year’s race.
This year's Tour was a showcase of remarkable performances from a new generation of cycling talent. Notably, Irish climber Ben Healy surprised many by donning the yellow jersey for two days early in the race, driven by instinctive attacks. Competing for EF Education-EasyPost, Healy stepped up in the absence of the team's leader, Richard Carapaz, winning Stage 6 and earning the Tour’s “Super Combative” prize for his impressive exploits on the road. “It is one thing to achieve what you set out to achieve; it is another to do it with a smile,” said team sports director Charly Wegelius.
Italian sprinter Jonathan Milan from Lidl–Trek dominated the green jersey competition throughout his Tour debut. The battle for the points classification shifted dramatically in Stage 3 when previous champion Jasper Philipsen of Alpecin–Deceuninck suffered a crash that forced him to abandon the race. Milan and teammate Quinn Simmons, who proudly sported the American flag road champion’s jersey, launched a relentless campaign to outpace remaining sprinters. Milan ultimately secured the final points classification, showcasing his resilience even amidst rain and crashes. In a heartwarming moment, Simmons proposed to his girlfriend after crossing the finish line, and she said yes!
This year’s Tour de France not only highlighted Pogačar's dominant performance but also the emergence of new talent, making it a memorable event for cycling enthusiasts worldwide.
