Pogacar celebrates second overall victory in the Tour de France

While the 22-year-old Slovenian's second overall victory was already certain well before the last stage on the Champs-Élysées in Paris, "King Cav" wanted the final crowning glory on Sunday: the 35th victory of the day, with which he overtook Belgium legend Eddy Merckx and would have broken a decades-old record. But this time the Belgian Wout van Aert won in the magnificent center of the metropolis, it was his third stage victory. It was the first sprint defeat for Cavendish, who finished third.

Pogacar was able to fully enjoy his triumph on the final stage of the tour. The yellow-carrier laughed and joked with his seven teammates from UAE, and together with the other Slovenians he sent a message to the injured rival and compatriot Primoz Roglic on the TV screen.

Almost a year after the Slovenian party, when Pogacar Roglic stole the overall victory at the very end, the small sporting nation can now celebrate the next giant sporting coup. “Super-Pogi”, who shone throughout this time and was over five minutes ahead of Jonas Vingegaard (Denmark) and Richard Carapaz from Ecuador, won not only the yellow jersey but also the white for the best young professional and the polka dot for the best mountain rider. Compatriot Matej Mohoric rounded off the Slovenian festival weeks with two more daily victories. Pogacar, the cannibal Pogacar, the all-rounder from Komenda, has shaped the tour this year like no one has since Lance Armstrong, who has now been convicted of a doping offender, around 20 years ago. Belgium's icon Merckx has already ennobled the double champion: “I see him as the new cannibal. He is extremely strong. I think he will win the Tour several times in the coming years.” Pogacar could also win the Tour crown more than five times, which is currently the record.

In addition to his excellent and tactically flawless performance, the star of the UAE team also benefited from several fortunate circumstances. Main rival Egan Bernal (Ineos) rode in the Giro d'Italia instead of the Tour in 2021, opponents Roglic and Geraint Thomas fell early and were out of the fight for the yellow jersey in week one. Pogacar actually drove two weeks from his solo ride in the Alps towards overall victory, which he topped off with fantastic individual successes at the Col du Portet and in Luz Ardiden.

In addition to the very young Pogacar, the much older Cavendish was the second big star of this 108th edition. After very tough years, the Brit suddenly emerged from obscurity and won four of five sprint finals. With the final coup in the magnificent center of Paris he would have replaced record holder Merckx, so the score remains at 34:34. The 76-year-old had already put things into perspective: “You can’t compare it. I rode 2800 kilometers alone in the wind, Cavendish six seconds.”

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Pogacar celebrates second overall victory in the Tour de France

The new dominator Tadej Pogacar signed a few jerseys at the Tour d'Honneur on Sunday evening and showed small tricks with his bike, at the same time sprinter Mark Cavendish missed the sole record at the end of the 108th Tour de France.

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