NICE, France — Tadej Pogačar Clinches Historic Third Tour de France Victory with Final Stage Triumph in Nice

In a spectacular conclusion to this year's Tour de France, Slovenian cyclist Tadej Pogačar has achieved an impressive milestone by securing his third overall victory in the esteemed race. The 25-year-old rider celebrated this momentous accomplishment with a commanding performance in the final stage—a time trial that showcased the breathtaking landscapes from Monaco to Nice.

Pogačar’s triumph in the Tour de France for the third time is a historic achievement, making him the first cyclist to win both the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France in the same year since the legendary Marco Pantani in 1998. This accolade further cements Pogačar’s position as one of the preeminent cyclists of his generation, highlighting his extraordinary talent and consistency.

In the concluding 34-kilometer (21-mile) time trial, set against the stunning backdrop of the French Riviera, Pogačar completed the course in an impressive 45 minutes and 24 seconds. His time trial performance was exceptional, placing him 1 minute and 3 seconds ahead of Denmark's Jonas Vingegaard, the two-time defending champion. Belgian cyclist Remco Evenepoel finished in third place, crossing the line 1 minute and 14 seconds behind Pogačar.

The final standings of the Tour underscored Pogačar’s dominance throughout the race. Vingegaard, who had been in second place, ended the Tour 6 minutes and 17 seconds behind Pogačar. Evenepoel, despite an impressive performance in the time trial, concluded the race in third place, 9 minutes and 18 seconds behind the Slovenian star. Pogačar’s previous Tour de France victories came in 2020 and 2021, and his sustained excellence in the sport continues to underscore his exceptional capabilities.

This year’s Tour concluded in Nice, diverging from the traditional finish in Paris due to the upcoming Olympic Games. Nice, with its picturesque coastline and challenging terrain, provided an ideal setting for the final stage. The city's mayor, Christian Estrosi, lauded the region between the Mediterranean Sea and the southern French Alps as “perfect cycling territory,” praising its suitability for such a prestigious event.

On Sunday morning, enthusiastic fans lined the renowned Promenade des Anglais in Nice, eager to catch a glimpse of the cyclists in action. The atmosphere was electric, with some fans enthusiastically chanting “Remco, Remco” as Belgian time trial specialist Remco Evenepoel raced by.

Despite holding a substantial lead over Vingegaard, Pogačar did not ease his pace. Following a dramatic attack on Friday, which had secured him a commanding lead, Pogačar had indicated he would not push for a win in Saturday’s stage. However, his competitive drive prevailed, and he ultimately clinched victory in that stage as well. This achievement made him only the second rider to win five mountain stages in a single Tour de France, joining the ranks of Italian Gino Bartali, who accomplished the feat in 1948.

In the final stage, although Pogačar’s overall victory was already secured, the allure of adding another stage win to his impressive tally was irresistible. He expertly navigated the winding roads through picturesque locations such as Èze and Villefranche-sur-Mer. As the route flattened near Nice, Pogačar’s confidence was palpable. He celebrated crossing the finish line by holding up three fingers, denoting his sixth stage win of the Tour—matching the number of stages he had won during his dominant Giro d’Italia campaign earlier in the year.

Pogačar’s final margin of victory was the largest of his three Tour de France wins, surpassing his 5-minute and 20-second margin over Vingegaard from three years ago. However, it fell short of the 7-minute and 29-second margin that Vingegaard achieved over Pogačar in the previous year’s Tour.

The competition between Pogačar and Vingegaard was influenced by several factors, including Vingegaard’s health issues earlier in the season. The 27-year-old Danish rider had been hospitalized for nearly two weeks in April following a high-speed crash during the Tour of the Basque Country. Despite resuming competitive racing in time for this Tour de France, Vingegaard, while demonstrating remarkable resilience, was unable to match Pogačar’s formidable performance.

Pogačar’s victory stands as a testament to his remarkable skill, endurance, and strategic acumen, solidifying his status as one of the greatest cyclists of his era. As Pogačar continues to build on his extraordinary career, the 2024 Tour de France is anticipated to be a thrilling event, promising more exceptional performances and memorable moments in the world of cycling.