Tadej Pogacar's legend grows with fourth Tour de France win

In Sunday's final stage, Belgium's Wout van Aert claimed victory at the Champs-Elysees, but Pogacar had already done enough to clinch the yellow jersey after a dominant two-week run. 

Still, the Team UAE star was gunning for his fifth stage win, as he attacked on each of the three climbs to the Sacre Coeur, only to be eventually overtaken by van Aert. He also benefited from the fact that organizers neutralized the times in the slippery descents of the Cote de la Butte due to safety concerns, ensuring there were no more changes to the final standings.

Pogacar showed tremendous sportsmanship by congratulating van Aert and admitting he no longer had to race to the finish line after the organizers froze the final standings an hour before the descent.

With his fourth Tour title, Pogacar is now tied with Chris Froome for most wins, and just one shy of equalling the record. The win caps off a remarkable 12-month stretch that saw the Slovenian superstar also prevail in the Giro d'Italia and the World Championship. Furthermore, in 2024, he became the first rider since 1998 to complete the Giro-Tour double, adding to his legacy as the second-youngest Tour winner (2020).

Many believe Pogacar is on track to become the greatest of all time. He has set lofty goals for himself, with his sights set on winning an elusive Olympic gold medal at the 2028 Los Angeles Games. 

"I don’t think I’ll stop right away, but I also don’t see myself going on for much longer," he told l'Equipe of his retirement. "The Los Angeles Olympics are one of my goals, which are three years from now. After that, I might start thinking about retirement — we'll see."