Pogacar wins fifth Tour de France title in Paris

Tadej Pogacar won his fifth Tour de France on Sunday, sealing the overall victory as the race concluded in Paris and earning his third straight yellow jersey. The 27-year-old Slovenian, who rides for UAE Team Emirates, added another milestone by joining cycling’s small group of five-time Tour champions.

Officials noted that Pogacar now stands alongside Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, and Miguel Indurain in the record-matching list of five-time winners. The result places him in a historically rare category in the sport’s most prominent stage race.

Pogacar’s three-week control and stage wins

Across the three-week event, Pogacar combined consistent overall leadership with repeated success on individual days. He finished the Tour with five stage victories, underlining both his day-to-day strength and his ability to defend the overall lead through varied terrain and race situations.

The final general classification behind Pogacar featured Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel in second place and Mexico’s Isaac del Toro in third. Their podium finishes were confirmed as the race wrapped up in Paris.

Vingegaard’s exit after a Stage 15 crash

Pogacar’s route to the title became clearer after Jonas Vingegaard, a two-time Tour winner, withdrew from the race. Officials said Vingegaard exited following a crash during Stage 15, removing a major contender from the battle for the overall lead.

The withdrawal was one of the key turning points in a Tour where the top positions were increasingly defined in the latter stages. Pogacar maintained control through to the finish, ultimately taking the overall title without relinquishing the decisive advantage he had built.

Final stage cut short amid wildfire security redeployment

The closing stage in Paris was won by Mathieu van der Poel, but the day unfolded under changed conditions. Organisers shortened the final stage to 89 kilometres from the original 133 kilometres.

Officials said the reduction reflected security needs, with forces redeployed to help manage wildfires near Bordeaux. The change altered the day’s format while preserving the ceremonial finish that traditionally closes the Tour in the French capital.

Unusual stat: no stage wins for France, Italy, or Spain

This year’s race also produced a first in cycling history: no rider from France, Italy, or Spain won a stage during the event. Organisers highlighted the statistic as a notable departure from the Tour’s long-running pattern, given those countries’ traditional presence in stage-winning lists.

The 2025 Tour began with the Grand Depart in Barcelona and ended with Pogacar once again in yellow in Paris. While future attempts to move beyond five titles remain uncertain, the immediate outcome is clear: Pogacar’s fifth Tour victory further cements his place among the event’s most successful winners.

Implications

Country Impact: For Slovenia, Pogacar’s fifth Tour de France victory reinforces the country’s prominence in elite men’s road cycling through a single standout champion. The podium also highlighted broader geographic spread, with riders from Belgium and Mexico finishing second and third overall.

Industry Impact: For professional cycling, the result adds a new member to the sport’s most exclusive winners list while underscoring how crashes and withdrawals can reshape general classification battles. Organisers also faced operational pressure as wildfire-related security needs forced a late change to the Paris finale.

Market Impact: For teams and sponsors, a fifth Tour title for a UAE Team Emirates rider delivers high-visibility exposure at the sport’s biggest event. The shortened final stage shows how external events such as wildfires can affect event planning and security resourcing, introducing logistical uncertainty for major races.