Tadej Pogacar makes history with record-breaking Tour de France stage win

On July 18, 2025, in France, Tadej Pogacar continued to showcase his dominance in the Tour de France, taking a significant victory in a mountain time trial to Peyragudes. Completing the 10.9 km course in 23 minutes flat, he further extended his lead in the yellow jersey to four minutes and seven seconds ahead of his closest rival, Jonas Vingegaard. This win marked Pogacar's fourth stage victory in the current Tour and made him the youngest rider to achieve a total of 21 stage wins in the history of the competition. He demonstrated his prowess, especially during his stunning performance in the challenging terrain, a testament to his skills as a cyclist and competitor. Vingegaard, a seasoned competitor, had a mixed performance, recovering from a disappointing previous day and finishing as one of the top contenders, though he still lagged behind Pogacar’s remarkable lead. Other riders, including Remco Evenepoel, struggled in the harsh conditions of the mountain trial, with Evenepoel barely clinging to a podium position due to poor performance. Pogacar’s success in this stage was not just about the victory but also illustrated the tactical decisions taken regarding equipment, as he opted for a road bike while several competitors chose time trial bikes, which likely contributed to his advantage. The current Tour de France has seen Pogacar firmly establishing himself as the preferred choice to win the title for a fourth consecutive year. His confidence was evident as he expressed his happiness with his performance in the time trial, noting that it was a