UAE Team Emirates’ Tadej Pogacar has made history by becoming the first rider to secure the Giro d’Italia and Tour de France double since 1998. Pogacar claimed his third Tour de France title on Sunday, finishing with a commanding six-minute and 17-second lead over his closest competitors.
The Slovenian cyclist not only won the Tour but also dominated the final stage, capturing his sixth stage victory with a time trial from Monaco to Nice. His time of 45 minutes and 24 seconds saw him outpace defending champion Jonas Vingegaard by one minute and three seconds. Pogacar’s victory marked a flawless Tour performance, showcasing his consistency and strategic prowess throughout the race.
“This year’s Tour de France was just amazing,” Pogacar said. “I was enjoying it from day one until today. After two challenging years, everything went perfectly this time.”
Pogacar’s achievement reaffirms his status as one of cycling’s elite. No rider had completed the Giro/Tour double since Marco Pantani, and Pogacar joins an elite group of only eight riders to accomplish this feat. His team, UAE Team Emirates, also won the team classification, further highlighting their dominance in the sport.
In other notable results, Eritrea’s Biniam Girmay won the green jersey for points classification, and Richard Carapaz of Ecuador took the polka dot jersey for the mountains classification. Remco Evenepoel, who claimed the white jersey for the best young rider, finished 9 minutes and 18 seconds behind Pogacar.
This year’s Tour de France concluded outside Paris for the first time in its 121-year history due to the upcoming Olympic Games. The final stage time trial was reminiscent of the 1989 Tour, where Greg LeMond overtook Laurent Fignon on the last day. Unlike that dramatic finish, Pogacar’s commanding lead ensured a less tense final day but showcased his unrivaled performance throughout the race.
