Slovenian cycling phenomenon Tadej Pogacar cemented his legendary status by capturing his fourth Tour de France title at just 27 years old—weeks before his September birthday—further validating comparisons to the iconic “Cannibal” Eddy Merckx. The 2025 triumph saw only one blemish on Pogacar’s final day: an unexpected defeat in the Paris finale. Despite targeting victory on the 132km stage featuring three ascents of Montmartre’s cobbles—a course tailor-made for his classics prowess—he was outmaneuvered by Wout Van Aert. The Belgian ace, winless in this Tour but a nine-time past stage winner, launched a devastating counterattack six kilometers from the finish after Pogacar’s own acceleration. Van Aert claimed the day’s glory, while Pogacar crossed fourth, admitting, “When Wout attacked, I had no energy left to chase.”
Celebrating his sixth career Grand Tour podium, Pogacar reflected: “It still feels unreal. Winning the Tour for the fourth time keeps getting more beautiful—I’m incredibly happy.” He acknowledged his rivalry with Jonas Vingegaard, noting their “brutal” week-long duel pushed both to new limits: “I have maximum respect for Jonas, though he seemed less aggressive this year, possibly due to my marking.” Pogacar hinted at skipping the upcoming Vuelta a España to recharge: “Now I’ll savor quiet days at home and enjoy summer.”
Italy celebrated its own breakthroughs, with Jonathan Milan securing the green jersey as points champion—ending the nation’s stage-win drought since Vincenzo Nibali’s 2019 victory. The Friulian sprinter notched two critical stage wins, later stating, “I’ll need days to process this.” Davide Ballerini bolstered Italy’s campaign with a second-place finish on the final stage.