Tadej Pogačar of Slovenia captured his fifth Tour de France title on Sunday, crossing the finish line just before 8 p.m. local time. His victory places him in a tie with four other cyclists for the most Tour de France wins in the sport’s history: Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, and Miguel Induráin.
The final stage of the prestigious cycling event took place on the Champs-Élysées in Paris, beginning around 5:50 p.m. local time. The start of the stage experienced a slight delay due to modifications made in response to wildfires affecting the southwestern region of France. The original route was shortened as event security and police personnel were reassigned to assist with wildfire response efforts.
The concluding stage had originally been planned to start in Thoiry, approximately 56 kilometers west of Paris, with riders then proceeding into the city. Dutch cyclist Mathieu van der Poel claimed victory in the final stage, completing it in 1 hour, 58 minutes and 49 seconds. Pogačar’s aggregate time for the entire tour was 73 hours, 56 minutes and 26 seconds, finishing nearly six and a half minutes ahead of his closest competitor, Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel.
Pogačar’s achievement comes with historical significance, as his five victories equal the record held by several legendary cyclists. Lance Armstrong previously held seven Tour de France titles but was stripped of all his wins following revelations about his use of performance-enhancing drugs.
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