Tadej Pogacar claimed a record-equalling fifth Tour de France title as Mathieu van der Poel won a sensational 21st and final stage around Paris on Sunday. Photo: AFP
Tadej Pogačar claimed his record-equalling fifth Tour de France title as Mathieu van der Poel won a sensational 21st and final stage around Paris on Sunday.
Two-time world champion Pogačar joined Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain as the most successful riders in Tour history. Pogačar had all but secured his historic title during the previous two mountain stages that finished on the iconic Alpe d'Huez climb.
The 27-year-old Slovenian won five stages and had been in yellow since his victory on the Pyrenean sixth stage. He now has 26 stage victories in total, putting him fourth on the all-time list behind only Mark Cavendish (35), Merckx (34) and Hinault (28).
He also surpassed both Indurain and Chris Froome for total days spent in yellow with 70, trailing now only Hinault (75) and Merckx (96).
