Tadej Pogacar, at 27 years old, has achieved his fifth overall victory in the Tour de France, concluding on the Champs Élysées. This places him alongside notable cyclists Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, and Miguel Induráin, who also have five wins each. His mother, Marjeta, suggested he might continue at his current level for perhaps another 10 years.
The final stage in Paris saw Mathieu van der Poel claim victory after a charge to the finish line. Pogacar and his UAE Team Emirates-XRG team were dominant throughout the race, with the team earning €832,750 in prize money. In contrast, the Picnic PostNL team received €12,770.
Pogacar’s Dominance and Records
Pogacar’s record of victories is extensive, with only Paris-Roubaix and the Vuelta a España, which starts in Monaco on 22 August, remaining to be won from major competitions. He has spent nearly 9,500km in the yellow jersey across his five wins, an impressive feat considering he took the lead in his first Tour win on the penultimate day in 2020.
He is the youngest five-time winner and completed his successes in under 404 hours of racing. His average speed of 41.99kmh surpasses that of any other five-time winner. These statistics reflect advancements in technology, equipment, and athlete capabilities, alongside shorter stages, increased rest days, and a reduced number of time trials in the Tour.
During stage 19, Pogacar broke Marco Pantani’s Alpe d’Huez climbing time, covering the 13.8km in 35 minutes and 27 seconds, which was 1.05 quicker than the previous record set in 1995. His sports director, Matxin Fernández, noted that the team’s focus is on winning rather than records, though acknowledged the significance of such achievements.
Pogacar also set a new record for the Col du Tourmalet, completing the climb in 43.12. This year’s Tour de France has been noted as the fastest in the race’s history, averaging 43.326kph over its 3,321km.
Team Success and French Riders
Isaac del Toro, a teammate of Pogacar, joined him on the Paris podium by finishing third overall. Del Toro also secured the white jersey for the best young rider. This was aided by Pogacar’s support, including sacrificing a potential victory on the ‘queen’ stage to Alpe d’Huez to consolidate Del Toro’s podium position.
French cyclists experienced a mixed Tour. For only the third time, there were no home stage wins. However, three French riders—Paul Seixas, Lenny Martinez, and Jordan Jegat—finished in the top 10. Seixas, a 19-year-old, finished fourth in the general classification despite recovering from a crash in June and a cold. He expressed disappointment at missing the podium but found motivation in the experience.
Remco Evenepoel finished six minutes 26 seconds behind Pogacar, securing second place. Other jersey winners included Richard Carapaz, who claimed the king of the mountains’ polka dot jersey, and Mads Pedersen, who was awarded the green points jersey.
Challenges and Future Outlook
The performances of Pogacar have led to some frustration among fans who feel the sport is losing its competitive edge due to his dominance. His longstanding rival, Jonas Vingegaard, crashed out of the Tour on stage 15, breaking his collarbone. Both Pogacar and Vingegaard were subjected to nocturnal doping controls by the International Testing Agency, though no results have been made public.
The increased speeds in the peloton are attributed to several factors, including advancements in bicycle technology, equipment, and improved training and nutrition methods. Mauro Gianetti, UAE Team Emirates principal, highlighted the immense increase in quality of bicycle components over the last five years, impacting tyres, pressure, helmets, and frame design. Despite these technological improvements, the emphasis remains on the watts gained in training as the primary differentiator.
Pogacar is expected to confirm his participation in the upcoming Vuelta a España.
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Source: theguardian.com
