Tadej Pogačar has done what only four other men in cycling history have achieved. The 27-year-old Slovenian rider secured his fifth Tour de France title on 26 July, equalling the all-time record shared by Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain. The victory further cemented his status as the dominant force of modern cycling and one of the greatest riders the sport has ever seen.
For cycling fans, the achievement is about more than another yellow jersey. Pogačar's latest triumph comes during an era of fierce competition, advanced sports science and relentless scrutiny. Yet he has continued to win, collecting stage victories and major titles at a rate rarely seen in the modern peloton. His fifth Tour crown has sparked fresh debate about where he ranks among the sport's all-time greats and whether he can eventually stand alone atop the record books.
