🏆Tadej Pogacar Poised to Win 4th Tour de France Title as Rain Threatens Paris Finale
🚴 Tadej Pogacar Rolls into Paris in Yellow — One Stage from Glory
After 3,338 kilometers, 52,500 meters of elevation, and 20 punishing stages of agony, triumph, and tactical brilliance — Tadej Pogačar stands on the brink of his fourth Tour de France title.
At just 26, the Slovenian superstar has carved out his place in cycling royalty, dominating the 2025 edition with surgical precision and fearless climbing across both the Pyrenees and Alps.
“It’s been one of the hardest I’ve ever done,” Pogacar admitted. “But I’ve enjoyed every moment.”
The 21st and final stage — typically a ceremonial ride into Paris — takes a thrilling detour this year: three cobbled ascents of Montmartre, the same punishing climbs featured during the 2024 Paris Olympics.
And with rain in the forecast, the Champs-Élysées could transform into a treacherous ice rink — adding real danger to what’s normally a processional sprint finish.
View Finale Live Updates!
🌧️ Rain or Wreckage? Montmartre Finish Brings Risk
Tour organizers ASO announced that timing may be neutralized mid-stage if weather turns dangerous. A slippery Montmartre could spell disaster for any rider still hunting stage glory.
Jonas Vingegaard, Pogacar’s Danish rival, expressed concern:
“It’s going to add more stress than we’d like. Those cobbles aren’t friendly when wet.”
📊 GC Standings After Stage 20
🏅 Rank | Rider | Country | Team | Time Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Tadej Pogacar | Slovenia | UAE Team Emirates | 73h 54′ 59″ |
2 | Jonas Vingegaard | Denmark | Visma-Lease a Bike | +4’24” |
3 | Florian Lipowitz | Germany | Red Bull–Bora–Hansgrohe | +12’12” |
4 | Oscar Onley | UK | Picnic–PostNL | +12’12” |
5 | Felix Gall | Austria | Decathlon–AG2R | +17’12” |
View all rankings situation after stage 20
🧠 Strategy & Dominance: How Pogacar Sealed It
- Early Stage Wins: Pogacar snatched victories in Rouen and the Mur de Bretagne, laying down an early marker.
- Mountain Mastery: He claimed Hautacam and Peyragudes with Alpine firepower, dropping Vingegaard decisively.
- TT Brilliance: A long time trial shattered the Dane’s comeback hopes.
- Control Mode: From Stage 18 onward, he transitioned into defensive mode — cool, calm, calculating.
🌟 Young Guns Break Through
The 2025 Tour wasn’t just Pogacar’s parade. It was also a breakout year for cycling’s next generation:
Rider | Achievement |
|---|---|
Florian Lipowitz | First German podium since Ulrich-era |
Oscar Onley | 22 y/o Scot finishes 4th overall |
Ben Healy | Stage win + two days in yellow jersey |
Thymen Arensman | Tactical mountain raids for Ineos |
Valentin P-Peintre | France’s lone stage win atop Mont Ventoux |
💥 Stage 20 Recap: Kaden Groves Unleashes
| 🥇 Stage 20 Results (Nantua → Pontarlier, 184.2 km) |
Position | Rider | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Kaden Groves | Alpecin-Deceuninck | 4:06:09 |
2 | Frank Van Den Broek | Picnic–PostNL | +0:54 |
3 | Pascal Eenkhoorn | Soudal Quick-Step | +0:59 |
Groves attacked from a late breakaway group and never looked back, riding solo for the final stretch to claim his first Tour stage win and complete a Grand Tour stage-winning trifecta.
“People doubted if I belonged. Well, I’ve just won in the Tour,” Groves declared.
⏳ All Eyes on Paris
The final day may carry traditional pageantry, but this year’s Montmartre twist + rain threat = chaos potential. While Pogacar’s GC lead is safe, stage hunters will need to gamble on slick cobbles, narrow bends, and nerves of steel.
Either way, history awaits.
“If it rains, it could freeze GC times,” Tour race director Thierry Gouvenou confirmed.
🚨 A Tour to Remember
From van der Poel’s yellow jersey days to Ganna’s heartbreak exit, from youth rebellion to UAE dominance, the 2025 Tour de France will go down as one of the most memorable in years.
But above all, it belongs to Tadej Pogacar — the boyish killer from Komenda who now stands shoulder to shoulder with the legends.
