Nice, July 22: Tadej Pogacar has won the Tour de France in a triumph reminiscent of the legacy of Marco Pantani, completing the historic Giro d’Italia-Tour double in 2024. Pogacar’s victory in the final time trial from Monaco to Nice, beating Jonas Vingegaard by 1min 3sec and Remco Evenepoel by 1min 14sec, sealed his dominant performance in the two Grand Tours.

The Slovenian’s remarkable feat marks the first Giro-Tour double of the 21st century, with a combined lead of over 16 minutes across the two races and 39 days in the lead. Pogacar’s prowess was evident as he won six stages in both the Giro and Tour, setting a new benchmark for Grand Tour victories in a single season.

Pogacar’s dominance was particularly evident in the final stage of the Tour, where he demonstrated his relentless pursuit of excellence. His performance contrasts sharply with the struggles of Vingegaard’s Visma Lease-a-Bike team, who have suffered setbacks with injuries and illness throughout the season.

The victory positions Pogacar as a formidable competitor for Eddy Merckx’s records. Pogacar is only 25 and has already won three Tour titles, compared to Merckx’s five. He has been wearing the yellow jersey for 40 days, almost 97 days ahead of Merckx.

As Pogacar celebrates, the cycling world recognizes a new era of dominance and excitement, driven by his electrifying performances and the sport’s global appeal. Despite controversy and doubts, including questions about team practices, Pogacar’s achievements underscore a shift in cycling, marked by technological advances and a new generation of stars.

The 2024 Tour de France will not only highlight Pogacar’s exceptional talent, but will also set the stage for future rivalries and records in the ever-changing world of professional cycling.