Pogacar thrills on Parisian cobbles to seal fourth crown

Tadej Pogacar ignited an explosive final stage of the Tour de France in Paris, from Mantes-la-Ville to the Champs Élysées, while sealing his fourth overall victory in the race since 2020.

- Jeremy Whittle

Despite a downpour on the cobbles of Montmartre, Pogacar put in a daredevil performance, attacking on each of the three climbs to the Sacré Cœur, only to be finally distanced by the stage winner Wout van Aert, of the Visma Lease a Bike team.

Pogacar had effectively confirmed his fourth Tour de France win during the final stage, after the cobbled climbs and descents over the Côte de la Butte Montmartre were neutralised because of the wet conditions, ensuring there would be no more changes to the overall standings.

With the Tour won, there was no incentive for the Slovene to attack, but a prestigious stage victory was still at stake and on the first climb of Montmartre he and Van Aert led a group in pursuit of Julian Alaphilippe, who had made the first move on the steep cobbles of Rue Lepic.

Despite the torrential rain, Pogacar and five others moved clear. Another devastating acceleration on the final climb of Rue Lepic blew the lead group apart, but Van Aert clung on and his explosive power eventually took him past the Slovene and ahead to victory.

Pogacar, whose previous wins came in 2020, 2021 and 2024, comfortably beat his closest rival, Jonas Vingegaard, by almost four and a half minutes, in what both riders acknowledged was the hardest edition of the race they have competed in.