Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) claimed his fourth overall victory in the 2025 Tour de France, equaling Chris Froome’s tally and climbing to within one title of the all-time leaders with five wins[1]. The final, rain-soaked stage in Paris featured a modified route due to wet conditions: race times for the general classification were neutralized after four passes on the Champs-Élysées, making the final laps and Montmartre climb decisive only for the stage result, not overall standings[1].
Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) took a thrilling solo victory on this new Montmartre finish, distancing Pogačar in the final kilometers and ending 19 seconds ahead, celebrating a memorable win after missing out on other opportunities earlier in the Tour[1][7]. Despite race organizers’ hopes for general classification drama on the last day, the treacherous weather required the safety-first ruling, though fans still witnessed attacking riding and a dramatic conclusion[1].
Pogačar’s dominant Tour included four stage victories and a final margin of 4 minutes and 24 seconds over Denmark’s Jonas Vingegaard, who has now been runner-up to Pogačar for three consecutive years (2023, 2024, 2025)[3]. At only 26 years old, Pogačar matches the career totals of cycling greats, setting up an opportunity to equal the five-win record of Eddy Merckx, Miguel Indurain, Bernard Hinault, and Jacques Anquetil next year[3].
The 2025 edition was one of the most mountainous in Tour history, spanning 3,320 km over seven flat stages, six hilly stages, six mountain stages, and two time trials[2]. Key features included triple summit finishes in the Pyrenees, a dramatic climb to Mont Ventoux, and a pair of culminating Alpine stages into Courchevel and La Plagne[2]. Stage 19 required a detour around the Col des Saisies due to an outbreak of cattle disease, demonstrating how rapid changes can impact the race in real time[4].
The Grand Départ took place in Lille, with the race visiting only French regions and departments for the first time since 2020[6]. The Tour de France Femmes overlapped by two days, continuing the tradition of showcasing both men’s and women’s racing in July[2].
References
- [1] Tour de France stage 21: Tadej Pogačar claims fourth overall victory as Wout van Aert solos to victory over new Montmartre climb – Cyclingnews
- [2] Tour de France 2025 route revealed – Cyclingnews
- [3] Tadej Pogacar wins fourth Tour de France, conquers 2025 – NBC Sports
- [4] Tour de France Stage 19 Changed Because Of Infected Cattle – FloBikes
- [6] Official route of Tour de France 2025 – letour.fr
- [7] Last Km – Stage 21 – Tour de France 2025 (video)
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