Pogacar Secures Fifth Tour de France Victory
Slovenian cyclist Tadej Pogacar won his fifth Tour de France on Sunday, equaling the record held by Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, and Miguel Induráin. The 27-year-old dominated the race, winning by nearly six and a half minutes and taking five stages, including record-setting climbs on the Col du Tourmalet and Alpe d'Huez.
Merckx Predicts More Wins
Eddy Merckx, widely regarded as the greatest cyclist ever, praised Pogacar's achievement. "I don't think he'll be content just to draw level with me and the other champions," the 81-year-old Belgian said. "He'll soon break our record for Tour victories." Merckx's comments came as Pogacar helped his protege Isaac del Toro secure third place overall.
Dominance Amid Challenges
Pogacar's victory was marked by exceptional performances, but also by the misfortune of rivals. Remco Evenepoel, the Olympic road race champion, would likely have won his first Tour in another era, while Jonas Vingegaard and Florian Lipowitz, both podium finishers last year, crashed out. Pogacar acknowledged the unpredictability of the Tour: "It's three weeks. A lot of shit can happen."
Doping Concerns Resurface
Despite his success, questions about doping persist due to the history of his team manager, Mauro Gianetti. Gianetti was involved in the 2008 Saunier Duval scandal, where rider Riccardo Riccò tested positive for a blood-doping agent. "I made the mistake of taking them in my team," Gianetti told L'Équipe. "I should have reacted differently." Pogacar and Vingegaard were subjected to night-time tests by the Independent Testing Agency (ITA) last weekend, which Pogacar accepted: "If this is necessary to prove that we are riding clean, then I totally accept it."
Future Prospects
Pogacar is expected to compete in the Vuelta a España in August, aiming to win the only Grand Tour title missing from his resume. The 2027 Tour de France is set to start in Scotland, with Tour director Christian Prudhomme calling Edinburgh "a magical city" and noting that the UK has "given the Tour an enormous amount."
