The 2026 Tour de France ended with a moment that will forever be remembered in cycling history. Tadej Pogačar raised his arms in Paris to celebrate his fifth Tour de France title, securing his place among the sport's most exclusive group of champions.

The Slovenian now equals the record set by Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, Jacques Anquetil, and Miguel Induráin, the only riders to have won the Tour de France five times.

The 2026 edition will also be unforgettable for Mexico. Isaac del Toro secured a historic third-place finish in the overall classification, becoming the first Mexican rider ever to stand on the podium of cycling's most prestigious race. It was a remarkable achievement that he had virtually secured during the penultimate stage before officially sealing it on the Champs-Élysées.

Pogačar Is Now a Tour de France Legend

At just 27 years old, Tadej Pogačar continues to build a career that already ranks among the greatest in cycling history.

The leader of UAE Team Emirates-XRG previously won the Tour de France in 2020, 2021, 2024, 2025, and now 2026, matching a record that for decades seemed reserved only for the sport's greatest icons.

His dominance throughout this year's race was unquestionable.

His spectacular performance on the queen stage, finishing atop the legendary Alpe d'Huez, effectively decided the race and allowed him to maintain a lead of more than six minutes over his closest challengers.

The Slovenian also continues adding to his remarkable legacy with 26 Tour de France stage victories, placing him among the most successful stage winners in the history of the race.

Beyond Grand Tours, Pogačar's résumé already includes victories at the Giro d'Italia, the UCI Road World Championships, and several of cycling's prestigious Monument Classics.

The only major race still missing from his collection remains Paris-Roubaix, the legendary Monument that continues to elude him.

Isaac del Toro Writes the Greatest Chapter in Mexican Cycling

While Pogačar's triumph further cemented his legendary status, Isaac del Toro's podium finish marked a historic milestone for Mexican sports.

The young UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider finished third overall and claimed the White Jersey as the Tour de France's Best Young Rider.

With that result, he surpassed the best overall finish previously achieved by Raúl Alcalá, who had long held the benchmark for Mexican cyclists in the Grande Boucle.

Just hours earlier, Del Toro had mathematically secured his podium place after surviving the brutal Alpine stage thanks to the outstanding teamwork of UAE Team Emirates-XRG, particularly the support of Tadej Pogačar, who sacrificed part of his own advantage to help protect his young teammate.

The reward came in Paris.

For the first time in history, Mexico celebrated one of its riders standing on the podium of the Tour de France, a moment that will forever be remembered in the country's sporting history.

Van der Poel Closed the Tour in Spectacular Fashion

Although the overall classification had already been decided, the final stage delivered an unforgettable spectacle.

Rather than enjoying the traditional ceremonial ride into the Champs-Élysées, Tadej Pogačar launched an attack on the climbs of Montmartre, with only Mathieu van der Poel able to follow.

The two stars produced an exciting breakaway through the streets of Paris while the chasing peloton desperately tried to bring them back.

In the end, Van der Poel found just enough strength to claim the stage victory, while Pogačar crossed the finish line moments later with no need to fight for time.

The Dutchman captured the final stage, but the image that will live forever is another.

Tadej Pogačar, wearing the Yellow Jersey for the fifth time, officially entered cycling's pantheon of legends.

And standing alongside him was a young Mexican named Isaac del Toro, proving that Mexico now has a place among the giants of the Tour de France.

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