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CTV News
17 hours ago
- Climate
- CTV News
Tadej Pogačar shows unrivaled audacity to win his fourth Tour de France title in style
Tour de France winner Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia crosses the finish line of the twenty-first stage of the Tour de France cycling race in Paris, France, Sunday, July 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) PARIS — The roads were dangerously slippery after heavy rain. A fourth Tour de France title was all but won anyway, so finishing safely in the pack would do fine for Tadej Pogačar. Especially considering Sunday's final stage had already been neutralized for safety reasons and he just had to complete the race. Surely there was no need to launch a seemingly pointless attack and risk crashing? But holding back or being cautious rarely appeals to Pogačar, the 26-year-old cycling star from Slovenia. He clinched his fourth Tour title in inimitably daring style on Sunday and further cemented his place among cycling's greats. Even though he really did not need to, and risked falling on oil slick-wet roads, Pogačar simply could not help himself. Against all logical opinion, he tried winning Sunday's 21st and final stage with trademark uphill attacks, only to fall short of the stage win itself. 'In the end I found myself in the front, even though I didn't have the energy,' said Pogačar, who won the Tour last year and in 2020 and 2021. 'Just speechless to win the Tour de France, this one feels especially amazing,' Pogačar added. 'Just super proud that I can wear this yellow jersey.' Two-time Tour champion Jonas Vinegaard finished the overall race 4 minutes, 24 seconds behind Pogačar in second place and Florian Lipowitz was 11 minutes adrift in third. Belgian rider Wout van Aert won the 21st and last stage, which broke with tradition and featured three climbs of Montmartre hill. Because of heavy rain and the risk of crashes, organizers had earlier neutralized the times 50 kilometers (31 miles) from the end, effectively giving Pogačar the victory — providing he crossed the finish line. He did the opposite of what almost every rider would do with victory a near certainty. As the rain teemed down, he set a tremendous pace in the Montmartre climbs as fans cheered all along the cobbled Rue Lepic, with flags and fans hanging out of windows. Only five riders were left with Pogačar on the third ascension of the 1.1-kilometer Montmartre hill. After fending off American Matteo Jorgenson, he was caught cold near the top as Van Aert launched a stunning attack to drop — yes, drop! — Pogačar, the world's best climber, on the steepest section. 'Hats off to Wout, he was incredibly strong,' Pogačar said. Van Aert rolled back down for a prestigious stage win on the famed Champs-Élysées. Pogačar looked weary as he crossed the line in fourth place, 19 seconds behind. 'Peace and some nice weather' But then it was time to celebrate title No. 4. Although don't expect Pogačar to make any headlines on that front. 'Everyone celebrates in their own way, I just want peace and some nice weather, not like here today,' Pogačar said. 'Just to enjoy some quiet days at home.' Only four riders have won the showcase race five times: Belgian Eddy Merckx, Spaniard Miguel Induráin and Frenchmen Jacques Anquetil and Bernard Hinault. Pogačar won four stages this year to take his Tour tally to 21 and 30 at major races, including six at the Giro d'Italia and three at the Spanish Vuelta. The UAE Team Emirates leader praised his teammates. 'I think the second week was the decisive moment,' Pogačar said. 'We took more advantage.' Lipowitz, meanwhile, secured his first career podium at a Grand Tour, the alternative name given to the three major races. His performance, following his third-placed finish last month at the Critérium du Dauphiné, suggests the 24-year-old German rider could challenge in the near future. Breaking with tradition Traditionally, the last stage is largely processional with riders doing laps around Paris. The Tour broke with tradition after the success of the Paris Olympics road race, which also took in Montmartre, famous for its Sacré-Coeur basilica. Five in a row It was the fifth straight year where Pogačar and Vingegaard finished 1-2 at the Tour. Vingegaard was second in 2021, before beating Pogačar the next two years with the Slovenian second. When Pogačar reclaimed his title last year, Vingegaard was runner-up. 'We've raised the level of each other much higher and we push each other to the limit,' Pogačar said. 'I must say to him, big, big respect.' Five major titles Pogačar has also won the Giro d'Italia, doing so last year to become the first cyclist to secure the Giro and Tour double in the same season since the late Marco Pantani in 1998. But Pogačar has not yet won the Spanish Vuelta, whereas Anquetil, Hinault and Merckx won all three major races. A century of success When Pogačar won the hilly fourth stage of this year's race, it was the 100th professional victory of his stellar career, all events combined. Pogačar is also the world road race champion. His dominant victory at the Critérium continued his excellent form the spring classics. After winning stage 4 of the Tour, Pogačar added three more stage wins, including an emphatic uphill time trial. What's left to win? He would love to win the Paris-Roubaix classic and Milan San-Remo. The 259.2-kilometre (161-mile) Roubaix race is called 'The Hell of the North' because of its dangerous cobblestone sections. Pogačar debut appearance at the one-day classic this year saw him seeking to become the first Tour champion to win it since Hinault in 1981. But powerful Dutch rider Mathieu van der Poel won it for the third straight year. Pogačar has also yet to win Milan-San Remo, with Van der Poel also beating him there this year. Expect a fired-up Pogačar next year at Roubaix and Milan-San Remo. But it's unsure whether he'll tackle the Vuelta. ___ Jerome Pugmire, The Associated Press
CBC
2 days ago
- Sport
- CBC
Slovenian rider Tadej Pogačar defends Tour de France title, winning for 4th time overall
26-year-old previously won the 2024, 2021 and 2020 editions of the competition Tadej Pogačar won his fourth Tour de France title by a comfortable margin after Sunday's final stage, which he tried to win even though he did not need to. The 26-year-old Slovenian rider won the Tour last year and in 2020 and 2021. "Just speechless to win the Tour de France, this one feels especially amazing," he said. "Just super proud that I can wear this yellow jersey." Two-time Tour champion Jonas Vinegaard finished the overall race 4 minutes, 24 seconds behind Pogačar in second place and Florian Lipowitz was 11 minutes adrift in third. Belgian rider Wout van Aert won the 21st and last stage, which broke with tradition and featured three climbs of Montmartre hill. Because of the risk of heavy rain and crashes, organizers had earlier decided to neutralize the times 50 kilometres from the end, effectively giving Pogačar the victory — but providing he crossed the finish line. Pogačar had no need to contest the stage win, especially given the danger of crashing on slick roads. Yet as the rain fell heavily, he showed his relentless thirst for victory and attacked anyway, setting a tremendous pace in the Montmartre climbs as fans cheered all along the cobbled Rue Lepic, with flags and fans hanging out of windows. Only five riders were left with Pogačar on the third ascension of the 1.1-kilometre Montmartre hill. After fending off American Matteo Jorgenson, he was caught cold near the top as Van Aert launched a stunning attack to drop — yes, drop! — Pogačar, the world's best climber, on the steepest section. "Hats off to Wout, he was incredibly strong," Pogačar said. Van Aert rolled back down for a prestigious stage win on the famed Champs-Elysees. Pogačar looked weary as he crossed the line in fourth place, 19 seconds behind. But then it was time to celebrate title No. 4. Although don't expect Pogačar to make any headlines on that front. "Everyone celebrates in their own way, I just want peace and some nice weather, not like here today," Pogačar said. "Just to enjoy some quiet days at home." Canadian cyclist calls for improved rider safety after latest crash-riddled start to Tour de France Only four riders have won the showcase race five times: Belgian Eddy Merckx, Spaniard Miguel Indurain and Frenchmen Jacques Anquetil and Bernard Hinault. Pogačar won four stages this year to take his Tour tally to 21 and 30 at major races, including six at the Giro d'Italia and three at the Spanish Vuelta. The UAE Team Emirates leader praised his teammates. "I think the second week was the decisive moment," Pogačar said. "We took more advantage and went more comfortably into the third week." Lipowitz, meanwhile, secured his first career podium at a Grand Tour, the alternative name given to the three major races. His performance, following his third-placed finish last month at the Criterium du Dauphine, suggests the 24-year-old German rider could challenge in the near future. Breaking with tradition Traditionally, the last stage is largely processional with riders doing laps around Paris. The Tour broke with tradition after the success of the Paris Olympics road race, which also took in Montmartre, famous for its Sacre Coeur basilica. It was the fifth straight year where Pogačar and Vingegaard finished 1-2 at the Tour. Vingegaard was second in 2021, before beating Pogačar the next two years with the Slovenian second. When Pogačar reclaimed his title last year, Vingegaard was runner-up. Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar wins Grand Prix Cycliste de Montreal "We've raised the level of each other much higher and we push each other to the limit," Pogačar said. "I must say to him, big, big respect." Pogačar has also won the Giro d'Italia, doing so last year to become the first cyclist to secure the Giro and Tour double in the same season since the late Marco Pantani in 1998. But Pogačar has not yet won the Spanish Vuelta, whereas Anquetil, Hinault and Merckx won all three major races. Century of success When Pogačar won the hilly fourth stage of this year's race, it was the 100th professional victory of his stellar career, all events combined. Pogačar is also the world road race champion. He warmed up for this year's Tour with a dominant victory at the Criterium continuing his excellent form the spring classics, where he won Liege—Bastogne—Liege for third time. After winning stage 4 of the Tour, Pogačar added three more stage wins, including an emphatic uphill time trial. He would love to win the Paris-Roubaix classic and Milan San-Remo. The 259.2-kilometre (161-mile) Roubaix race is called "The Hell of the North" because of its dangerous cobblestone sections. Pogačar debut appearance at the one-day classic this year saw him seeking to become the first Tour champion to win it since Hinault in 1981. But powerful Dutch rider Mathieu van der Poel won it for the third straight year. Pogačar has also yet to win Milan-San Remo, with Van der Poel also beat him there this year. Expect a fired-up Pogačar next year at Roubaix and Milan-San Remo. But it's unsure whether he'll tackle the Vuelta.
CBC
2 days ago
- Sport
- CBC
Slovenian rider Tadej Pogačar wins the Tour de France for the 4th time
Tadej Pogačar won his fourth Tour de France title by a comfortable margin after Sunday's final stage, which he tried to win even though he did not need to. The 26-year-old Slovenian rider won the Tour last year and in 2020 and 2021. Two-time Tour champion Jonas Vinegaard finished the overall race 4 minutes, 24 seconds behind Pogačar in second place and Florian Lipowitz was 11 minutes adrift in third. Belgian rider Wout van Aert won the 21st and last stage, which broke with tradition and featured three climbs of Montmartre hill. Because of the risk of heavy rain and crashes, organizers had earlier decided to neutralize the times 50 kilometres (31 miles) from the end, effectively giving Pogačar the victory — but providing he crossed the finish line. Only five riders were left with Pogačar on the third ascension of the 1.1-kilometre Montmartre hill. After fending off American Matteo Jorgenson, he was caught cold near the top as Van Aert launched a stunning attack to drop — yes, drop! — Pogačar, the world's best climber, on the steepest section. Van Aert rolled back down for a prestigious stage win. Pogačar looked weary as he crossed the line in fourth place, 19 seconds behind. But then it was time to celebrate title No. 4.
National Post
2 days ago
- Sport
- National Post
Slovenian rider Tadej Pogacar wins the Tour de France for the fourth time
PARIS —Tadej Pogacar won his fourth Tour de France title by a comfortable margin after Sunday's final stage, which he tried to win even though he did not need to. Article content The 26-year-old Slovenian rider won the Tour last year and in 2020 and 2021. Article content Article content Two-time Tour champion Jonas Vinegaard finished the overall race 4 minutes, 24 seconds behind Pogacar in second place and Florian Lipowitz was 11 minutes adrift in third. Article content Belgian rider Wout van Aert won the 21st and last stage, which broke with tradition and featured three climbs of Montmartre hill. Article content Because of the risk of heavy rain and crashes, organizers had earlier decided to neutralize the times 50 kilometres from the end, effectively giving Pogacar the victory — but providing he crossed the finish line. Article content Pogacar had no need to contest the stage win, especially given the danger of crashing on slick roads. Yet as the rain fell heavily, he showed his relentless thirst for victory and attacked anyway, setting a tremendous pace in the Montmartre climbs as fans cheered. Article content Only five riders were left with Pogacar on the third ascension of the 1.1-kilometre Montmartre hill. Article content After fending off American Matteo Jorgenson, he was caught cold near the top as Van Aert launched a stunning attack to drop _ yes, drop! — Pogacar, the world's best climber, on the steepest section. Article content
France 24
6 days ago
- Sport
- France 24
Pogacar's Tour superiority stirs up old doping debate
The Slovenian has never tested positive for a banned substance and denies any suggestion his performance in the saddle is chemically enhanced. Here AFP Sport looks at the issues surfacing in the wake of the 26-year-old's seemingly inevitable assault on a fourth Tour de France. Why is Pogacar singled out? First and foremost because he's the best. He won in 2020, 2021 and 2024 and held a 4min 15sec lead over arch rival Jonas Vinegaard going into Wednesday's 17th stage. Third-placed Florian Lipowitz was over nine minutes adrift, and Carlos Rodriguez in 10th trailed by almost 21min with five days to go. Equally at home in the mountains or on flatter stages, Pogacar shrugs off his attackers with nonchalant ease. Last year he shattered the record time for the climb of the Plateau de Beille set by Marco Pantani in the dark years of the banned blood-booster EPO. On Tuesday he set a new fastest time for the ascent of Mont Ventoux in southern France. Pogacar's UAE team frequently has the peloton in the palm of its hand. Some point to the presence in Pogacar's team of background management figures like Mauro Gianetti. The Swiss used to be part of the now defunct Saunier-Duval team, which was under scrutiny from anti-doping authorities in the late 2000s. Pogacar's reaction? Pogacar himself brushes off the suggestions of skulduggery he has had to face ever since his first Tour win five years ago, always insisting that he should be "trusted". Last October he said to dope "is to ruin your life". "I don't want to take the risk of falling ill one day," he added, pointing out that cycling was "a victim of its past". He continued, with an air of resignation: "There is no trust, and I don't know what can be done to restore it." Dope-testing on the Tour Around 600 blood and urine samples will be collected from the peloton during this year's race, with 350 out-of-competition samples taken in the run-up to cycling's blue riband event. Drug controls are the responsibility of the International Testing Agency, which is independent from cycling's governing body the UCI. Each day the stage winner and yellow jersey holder are routinely tested. A selection of the samples are held for 10 years to allow for retro-testing with the advance of new detection techniques. The UCI also inspects bikes to prevent any technical cheating. While ketones to help store energy are permitted and widely used, the UCI banned the inhalation of carbon monoxide earlier this year. Recent doping cases? The last rider to be caught cheating was Colombian Nairo Quintana. He finished sixth in 2022, but was disqualified after traces of the banned painkiller tramadol were found in his blood. Beware of comparisons Pogacar's ability to smash records set by infamous dopers like disgraced seven-time winner Lance Armstrong or Pantani is remarkable. But riders warn of the trap of comparing times up an ascent like Mont Ventoux, pointing out that external factors like wind and rain and the pace of the stage. And as in other sports, cycling has made enormous progress since the EPO years. Technology has led to faster bikes, with the Tour's technical director Thierry Gouvenou suggesting a there has been a 10% gain in performance just thanks to better two-wheeled machines. Nutrition and training have also evolved. The peloton's reaction Pogacar's peers appear split, with some -- albeit anonymously -- questioning the Slovenian's superiority, while others regard him as an athlete the like of which only comes round once in a blue moon. They compare him to pole vaulter Mondo Duplantis or Usain Bolt, the Jamaican sprint king who rose above a sport tainted by doping to be revered in a class of their own. The fact that Pogacar displayed unnatural ability from a young age and tends to dominate throughout the season is interpreted by some as a reassuring sign.
