Pogacar shows unrivaled audacity to claim fourth Tour de France title

The roads were dangerously slippery after heavy rain. A fourth Tour de France title was all but guaranteed anyway, so crossing the line safely in the pack would have been fine for Tadej Pogacar. Especially considering that Sunday's final stage had already been neutralized for safety reasons, and he simply needed to complete the race.

Surely there was no need to launch a seemingly pointless attack and risk crashing?

But holding back or exercising extreme caution rarely appeals to Pogacar, the 26-year-old cycling star from Slovenia. He clinched his fourth Tour title in inimitably daring style on Sunday, further cementing his place among the sport's greats.

Even though he really did not need to do so, especially while risking a devastating fall on treacherously wet roads, Pogacar simply could not help himself. Against all logical opinion, he tried winning Sunday's 21st and final leg with trademark uphill attacks, only to fall short of the stage win down the stretch.

"In the end, I found myself in the front, even though I didn't have the energy," said Pogacar, who won the Tour last year, as well as in 2020 and 2021. "Just speechless to win the Tour de France, this one feels especially amazing. Just super proud that I can wear this yellow jersey."

Two-time former Tour winner Jonas Vinegaard finished the overall race four minutes and 24 seconds behind Pogacar in second place, with Florian Lipowitz 11 minutes adrift in third.

Belgian rider Wout van Aert won the 21st and last stage, which broke with tradition and featured three climbs of Montmartre Hill.

Due to heavy rain and the risk of crashes, race organizers had earlier neutralized the times 50 kilometers from the end, effectively giving Pogacar the victory – providing he crossed the finish line. He did the opposite of what almost every rider would do with winning a near certainty.

As the rain poured down, he set a tremendous pace in the Montmartre climbs, while spectators cheered all along the cobbled Rue Lepic, with flags and fans hanging out of windows.

Only five riders were left with Pogacar on the third ascension of the 1.1-kilometer Montmartre Hill.

After fending off the USA's Matteo Jorgenson, he was caught cold near the top, as Van Aert launched a stunning attack to drop Pogacar, the world's best climber, on the steepest section.

"Hats off to Wout, he was incredibly strong," Pogacar said.

Van Aert rolled back down for a prestigious stage win on the famed Champs-Elysees. Pogacar looked weary as he crossed the line in fourth place on the day, 19 seconds behind.