Pogacar wins record-equalling fifth Tour de France as Van der Poel takes final stage

Tadej Pogacar claimed his record-equalling fifth Tour de France title on Sunday, as Mathieu van der Poel won a sensational 21st and final stage around Paris. The two-time world champion joined Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain as the most successful riders in Tour history, according to France 24.

Pogacar 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 in 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, and now trails only Hinault (75) and Merckx (96).

He is the youngest rider to have won five Tours, more than a year younger than Merckx was in achieving the same feat, and is the first person to finish on the podium seven years running. He is also the only rider to have been on the podium in nine consecutive Grand Tours, France 24 reported.

Coverage comparison

France 24's reporting focused on both Pogacar's historic achievement and the dramatic final stage, which was shortened to 88.7km due to wildfires raging in the southwest of France. The outlet also highlighted Van der Poel's victory in a photo finish, as well as Richard Carapaz's King of the Mountains title and Isaac Del Toro's third-place finish.

The coverage of the penultimate stage detailed Pogacar's near-certain victory after Stage 20 on Alpe d'Huez, with Carapaz winning the stage and securing the polka dot jersey. It also described the misfortune of Sepp Kuss, who crashed twice while leading the stage and was saved from a potentially fatal fall by safety netting.

Key claims

  • Pogacar's fifth title ties the record held by Anquetil, Merckx, Hinault, and Indurain. He is the youngest to achieve five wins.
  • Pogacar spent 70 days in the yellow jersey, surpassing Indurain and Froome.
  • Van der Poel won Stage 21 in a photo finish, his second stage win in this Tour and fourth overall.
  • The final stage was shortened to 88.7km due to wildfires in southwest France.
  • Richard Carapaz won the King of the Mountains polka dot jersey and was voted the most combative rider.
  • Isaac Del Toro finished third overall, becoming the first Mexican on the Tour de France podium, and won the best young rider's white jersey.
  • Remco Evenepoel finished second overall.
  • Mads Pedersen won the green jersey.
  • No French, Italian, or Spanish riders won any stage, a historic first in 302 Grand Tours.
  • Stage 11 set a record for fastest average speed at 50.9kph.
  • Julian Alaphilippe competed in his final Tour de France.
  • Paul Seixas, at 19, was the youngest rider in the Tour since Adrien Cento in 1937.
  • Sepp Kuss crashed twice in the final 7km of Stage 20 and was saved from a ravine by safety netting.
  • Pogacar led by 6 minutes 26 seconds entering the final stage, with Del Toro third at 9:42.
  • Pogacar finished Stage 20 arm-in-arm with Del Toro, and reportedly allowed Evenepoel to gain approximately 40 seconds.