Pogacar Closes On Record-Equaling Fifth Tour de France Title

Tadej Pogacar stands one stage away from a record-equaling fifth Tour de France title, having secured near-insurmountable control with only Sunday's ceremonial finish in Paris remaining. The Slovenian and his AE Team Emirates squad navigated Saturday's penultimate stage safely, maintaining a 6.5-minute lead over Belgian rival Remco Evenepoel heading into the finale.

Barring mishap, per ESPN's reporting, Pogacar will join an elite quartet: Eddy Merckx of Belgium, Miguel Indurain of Spain, and Frenchmen Jacques Anquetil and Bernard Hinault. No other rider has won five Tours. Pogacar won Friday's 19th stage in style, then chose tactical caution on Saturday's alpine stage, ensuring his AE Team Emirates teammate Isaac Del Toro finished third in the standings, now more than two minutes clear of Frenchman Paul Seixas in fourth.

Saturday's 20th stage was a 171-kilometer alpine trek featuring three hors categorie climbs, the hardest classification in professional cycling, and one category 1 ascent, totaling 66 kilometers of climbing before a hilly finish to Alpe d'Huez. Richard Carapaz of Ecuador, a former Giro d'Italia winner, won the stage, his second victory at this year's race. His aggressive riding from the front secured the polka-dot jersey awarded to the Tour's best climber.

Carapaz benefited from late-stage drama when American Sepp Kuss, a former Giro winner riding for Pogacar's team, lost control of his bike going downhill with 5 kilometers left, mistiming a turn and nearly tumbling over a roadside concrete barrier before being cushioned by netting. The crash opened the door: Carapaz overtook Kuss near the line, and Belgian Remco Evenepoel surged past Kuss to take second place. Spanish climber Juan Ayuso, a former Vuelta winner, was dropped during the Sarenne pass as Kuss, Australian Jai Hindley (a former Giro champion), and Carapaz battled for supremacy.

Pogacar's yellow-jersey group was hanging back when Carapaz, Kuss, Ayuso, and Hindley went over the Galibier together. Unlike Friday, when Pogacar launched one of his decisive attacks, he chose not to accelerate on Saturday, opting for controlled riding to protect his commanding advantage and ensure Del Toro's podium finish.