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Pogacar wins a record-equalling fifth Tour de France as Van der Poel takes the Paris stage

Tadej Pogacar won the Tour de France for the fifth time on Sunday, joining Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain on the record. It was the 27-year-old Slovenian's third title in a row. Belgium's Remco Evenepoel was second overall and Mexico's Isaac del Toro third, Al Jazeera reported, citing Reuters.

The final stage went to Mathieu van der Poel, who attacked with Pogacar on the climb of Montmartre and held off the sprinters in a photo finish ahead of his teammate Jasper Philipsen. The stage was cut to 89km from 133km because security forces were sent to fight wildfires near Bordeaux. Al Jazeera also noted a first: no rider from France, Italy or Spain won a stage.

The Guardian said Pogacar won by almost six and a half minutes, took five stages and set record times on the Col du Tourmalet and Alpe d'Huez. His main rival, Jonas Vingegaard, crashed out. It quoted Merckx, now 81, predicting a sixth title.

“He'll soon break our record for Tour victories.” — Eddy Merckx, via The Guardian

The Guardian also added context: teams run by UAE manager Mauro Gianetti were hit by doping scandals in the past, including Saunier Duval in 2008, and Gianetti called himself a “victim” of that history.

How each outlet framed it

• Al Jazeera (Reuters) — the record, the podium and the wildfire-shortened finale.
• The Guardian — total dominance in a hot Tour, plus the doubts that come with it.

What happened next: a month later Pogacar broke his collarbone in a crash at the Vuelta a España and needed surgery, Al Jazeera reported.