Slovenian cyclist Tadej Pogačar secured his fifth Tour de France victory in Paris, joining an elite group of five-time winners in a race impacted by regional wildfires.

Tadej Pogačar of Slovenia claimed his fifth Tour de France title on Sunday, July 26, 2026, finishing the race with a total time of 73 hours, 56 minutes, and 26 seconds. Pogačar secured the overall classification victory by a margin of 6 minutes and 26 seconds over runner-up Remco Evenepoel of Belgium. The final stage in Paris was won by Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel, who completed the course in 1 hour, 58 minutes, and 49 seconds.

Historic Achievement and Podium

With this victory, Pogačar joins cycling legends Eddy Merckx, Miguel Indurain, Jacques Anquetil, and Bernard Hinault as the only five-time winners of the Tour de France. The 26-year-old rider, who competes for UAE Team Emirates XRG, described the achievement as "unbelievable" during a post-race press conference. The final podium of the 2026 race also featured 22-year-old Mexican rider Isaac del Toro, who finished third in his debut Tour de France appearance.

Impact of Wildfires on Race Logistics

The 2026 Tour de France was significantly affected by wildfires in the southwest of France, forcing organizers to modify the route and schedule. The final 21st stage was shortened from an originally planned 133 kilometers to 89 kilometers to allow emergency services to be redeployed to fire-affected areas. Consequently, the stage start was moved from Thoiry to the Champs-Élysées in Paris, with the race beginning at approximately 5:50 p.m. local time following a slight delay.