According to The Guardian, Tadej Pogacar has etched his name deeper into cycling history, securing his fifth Tour de France victory in 2026. The Slovenian sensation achieved the milestone as the youngest rider ever to reach five Tour wins, establishing a unique legacy defined by unchallenged dominance and a seemingly glitch-free ascent to the sport’s summit.

The decisive moment of the 2026 race arrived on stage six. With 42km remaining, Pogacar launched a blistering attack on the iconic Col du Tourmalet, dislodging rivals like Jonas Vingegaard and other race favourites. This singular, powerful move created an insurmountable lead, effectively ending the contest for the yellow jersey with weeks still to race.

As reported by The Guardian, former FDJ United manager Marc Madiot, analysing the race for RMC radio, encapsulated Pogacar’s commanding performance: “There was one single rider who attacked in this Tour: Tadej Pogacar. He attacked once, and everyone understood it was finished.”

A flawless path to five Tour wins

Pogacar now stands alongside an elite quartet of five-time Tour de France winners: Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, and Miguel Induráin. However, as highlighted by The Guardian, his journey to this landmark achievement distinguishes itself through a remarkable absence of the physical setbacks or moments of crisis that often plagued his legendary predecessors.

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Bernard Hinault endured a broken nose in the final week of his fifth win following a finish-line crash at Saint-Étienne.

Eddy Merckx battled an open wound throughout the 1974 race, requiring constant medical attention despite winning eight stages.

Miguel Induráin and his Banesto team faced a day of crisis in the Massif Central during his 1995 triumph.

Jacques Anquetil was pushed to the limit by Raymond Poulidor in 1964, with Poulidor ultimately losing crucial time after a puncture in a decisive time trial.

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Even Lance Armstrong’s 2003 Tour, later stripped because of doping, was the only one of his seven victories not secured until the final time trial, underlining a level of suspense largely absent from Pogacar’s dominant campaigns.

Beyond the Tour: Pogacar’s growing legacy

According to The Guardian, while Pogacar’s Tour de France record now matches the sport’s legendary five-time winners, his wider achievements continue to strengthen his claim as one of cycling’s greatest riders. He has already surpassed Miguel Induráin in many historical comparisons, while his 13 Monument Classics and two road world titles exceed Bernard Hinault’s tally of major one-day victories. Hinault, however, still boasts a superior Grand Tour record thanks to his two Giro d’Italia and two Vuelta a España titles alongside his five Tours.

Eddy Merckx remains the benchmark with more Grand Tour victories, Monuments, world titles and the world hour record. Nevertheless, Pogacar’s career trajectory suggests he is far from finished. A sixth Tour de France title in 2027 already appears a realistic possibility, while further ambitions at the Vuelta a España and the World Championships could enhance his legacy even further.

Away from the battle for the yellow jersey, the 2026 Tour de France also featured Mads Pedersen and Jasper Philipsen contesting the green jersey, while Richard Carapaz challenged for the polka dot jersey, adding further intrigue to the race.

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