Tadej Pogacar has secured his third Tour de France victory in dominant fashion, winning the final time trial between Monaco and Nice on July 21, 2024. The 25-year-old Slovenian cyclist’s performance throughout the tour was nothing short of extraordinary, as he claimed six stage victories and finished with a commanding lead of 6 minutes and 17 seconds over second-placed Jonas Vingegaard.Pogacar’s triumph marks a historic achievement in cycling, as he becomes the first rider since Marco Pantani in 1998 to complete the Giro-Tour double in the same year. This feat has solidified his place among cycling’s elite, with many comparing him to legendary figures such as Eddy Merckx.’I’m super happy. I cannot describe how happy I am after two hard years in the Tour de France. This year everything (was) perfection,’ Pogacar said after his victory. His dominance was evident across various terrains, particularly in the mountains where he equaled Gino Bartali’s 1948 record of winning five mountain stages in a single Tour.Pogacar’s performance has left the cycling world in awe, with his UAE Team Emirates director, Joxean Fernández ‘Matxin’, declaring him ‘the number 1, the best cyclist in the world’. His aggressive riding style and ability to excel in both climbing and time trials have earned him the nickname ‘caníbal’ (cannibal) of the peloton.As Pogacar basks in his Tour victory, he has already set his sights on future goals. He will participate in the upcoming Olympic Games and then aim for the World Championships in September in Zurich. If successful, Pogacar could achieve a triple crown in the Giro, Tour, and World Championships, a feat only accomplished by two cyclists in history, Stephen Roche and Eddy Merckx.
Key points
- Tadej Pogacar won his third Tour de France, dominating with six stage victories.
- Pogacar completed the Giro-Tour double, a feat not achieved since Marco Pantani in 1998.
- He aims to compete in the Olympics and World Championships, potentially achieving a historic triple crown.
