Tadej Pogačar dominated the 2026 Tour de France, setting six records and continuing his rise as one of the greatest cyclists of all time. His victories. Including a record-breaking ascent at Alpe d’Huez and a new mark for consecutive podium finishes, have cemented his place in cycling history, according to BikeRadar and Brujulabike.com.

Youngest Five-Time Tour de France Winner

Pogačar won his fifth Tour de France title at 27 years, 10 months, and 5 days, making him the youngest rider to achieve this feat, though he joined an exclusive group of five-time winners that includes Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, and Miguel Induráin. Merckx previously held the record at 29 years old — When asked about the record after his win, Pogačar joked, ‘I don’t like clubbing, so let’s aim to get out of this club.’

Breaking the Alpe d’Huez Ascent Record

On stage 19. Pogačar made history by setting a new record for the ascent of Alpe d’Huez, though he completed the 13.8-kilometer climb in 35 minutes and 27 seconds, surpassing the previous record of 36:40 set by Marco Pantani in 1995. This record had stood for over 30 years despite advances in technology and training, but Pogačar’s time shaved off 1 minute and 13 seconds, a stunning achievement that redefined what is possible on the iconic climb.

According to Brujulabike.com, Pogačar’s attack on the climb was decisive. He launched an early move from the base of the climb with UAE Team Emirates-XRG teammate Felix Großschartner leading the group of general classification contenders. After Großschartner’s efforts, Pogačar took over and dropped the chasing group, including Remco Evenepoel and Isaac del Toro. He later joined forces with Adam Yates, who briefly helped before pulling out. From that point, Pogačar led the field in a relentless pace, overtaking Sepp Kuss, Lenny Martínez, and Richard Carapaz before finishing alone at the top.

Seven Consecutive Tour de France Podiums

Pogačar’s fifth Tour de France victory also marked his seventh consecutive year on the podium, a new record. Before him, Miguel Induráin and Jonas Vingegaard had achieved five consecutive podium finishes. Vingegaard had previously defeated Pogačar in 2022 and 2023 and finished second in 2021, 2024, and 2025. His consecutive podium streak ended in 2026 after he crashed out on stage 15.

Pogačar’s victory in 2026 was especially impressive given the challenges he faced. Several of his UAE Team Emirates-XRG teammates fell ill, and Pogačar also had to contend with nighttime doping controls that disrupted his preparation. Despite these obstacles, he maintained his form and led the race to a dominant finish.

One record Pogačar has yet to match is the all-time Tour de France victory tally. Eddy Merckx remains the most successful with 5 wins, a number Pogačar is currently tied with. Whether he will break this record remains to be seen, but his performance in 2026 has shown that he is still in his prime and capable of achieving even more.