Pogacar's Tour de France dynasty continues with record-equalling fifth title

PARIS, July 26 : Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar secured a record-equalling fifth Tour de France title on Sunday after safely navigating the final stage, won by Mathieu van der Poel, to seal a third consecutive crown in cycling's greatest race.

The 27-year-old UAE Team Emirates XRG cyclist, affectionately known as "Pogi", only needed to avoid a race-ending mishap on the run into Paris to join Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain as a five-time Tour champion.

Belgium's Remco Evenepoel finished second overall, while Mexico's Isaac del Toro rounded out the overall podium in third.

"Thank you to all the fans and to all of France for hosting this great race," Pogacar said. "Thank you to my competitors for putting on a great show. We fought hard over the last three weeks."

'A DREAM'

Van der Poel and Pogacar broke away on the final ascent of Montmartre with around 10 kilometres remaining and took a slender advantage into the run to the Champs-Elysees as the chasing group closed relentlessly.

Pogacar's challenge faded inside the final kilometre, but Van der Poel pressed on to secure victory in a photo finish ahead of Alpecin–Premier Tech teammate Jasper Philipsen, with Mads Pedersen of Lidl–Trek in third.

"When I was sick last year and I had to watch the stage on television, I was already thinking about this moment," Van der Poel, 31, said.

"The way it went, it's a dream. It's incredible. It was super hard, and to be up there with the best rider in the world, all my respect for Tadej.

"I thought we were going to get caught back, then I was just thinking about this moment. I put my head down in the last five hundred metres. I just went as hard as I could...

"I'm super happy. I have a few races I still wanted to win