2025-07-08T16:51:46Z

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Tadej Pogacar, the defending champion of the Tour de France, showcased his exceptional cycling prowess by outsprinting rivals Mathieu van der Poel and Jonas Vingegaard to secure his 100th professional victory on stage four of this iconic race. This exhilarating stage ended in Rouen and was marked by intense competition among the top riders, culminating in a fierce uphill dash that left spectators in awe.

This particular stage, which stretched over a challenging 174.2 km route, featured five categorized climbs within the final 50 km. As the riders approached the decisive climbs, the competition intensified, leading to a series of attacks that split the pack and set the stage for an electrifying finish. Pogacar, well-known for his climbing ability, delivered a powerful performance, distancing all but Vingegaard on the demanding ascent of the Rampe Saint-Hilaire, just five kilometers from the finish line.

Pogacar reflected on the day's race, stating, "I hope today that everyone was on the limit. I tried with an attack on the second last climb and the last climb, and Jonas [Vingegaard] followed me, and everything came together. Joao [Almeida] did such an amazing job to lead me out to the end even if everyone was attacking. I am super proud of the team today. Amazing. It was such a nice victory." The pride in achieving such a milestone in cycling was evident as he added, "To win at the Tour is incredible, in this jersey even more, and to have 100 victories is amazing."

The significance of this victory is amplified by the fact that it marks Pogacar's 18th stage win in the Tour de France, as he aims for an unprecedented fourth consecutive title. With only 26 years under his belt, Pogacar has already established himself as one of the sport's elite riders.

In a noteworthy performance, Scotland's Oscar Onley, who is participating in his second Tour de France at just 22 years old, also made headlines. Despite facing a setback due to a late crash, Onley managed to secure a commendable fourth place among the elite general classification riders. His efforts in this challenging stage allowed him to rise to seventh place in the overall standings, a remarkable feat for a young athlete still early in his career.

Looking ahead, the next stage promises to be another test of skill and endurance, as the riders will face the first of two individual time trials on a 33 km course around Caen. Many cycling enthusiasts are keenly anticipating this stage, particularly because Remco Evenepoel, the reigning world and Olympic champion in time trials, has been tipped as a favorite to triumph. However, with Pogacar currently leading the general classification by nearly a minute, the competition remains fierce and unpredictable.