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Pogacar Claims Fifth Tour, Final Stage Halved by Wildfires

7/26/2026

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Summary

Pogacar Wins Fifth

Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) won his fifth Tour de France title on July 26 2026, equalling the record.
He finished 6 minutes 26 seconds ahead of Remco Evenepoel, while Isaac del Toro took third.
The 21st stage was shortened to 88.7 km because security forces were redeployed to fight wildfires near Bordeaux.
Pogacar joined Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain as the youngest rider with five Tour victories.

Summary

Tour Reroutes

The 2026 Tour’s final stage was rerouted to the Champs-Élysées after wildfires cut the route from 133 km to 89 km.
Wildfires in Arcachon Bay and Biscarrosse have burned 36,000 hectares and forced the evacuation of nearly 200,000 people.
Amaury Sport Organisation said the route change shows national solidarity with the affected communities.
Police and medical units assigned to the Tour were redirected to assist firefighting.

History

Historical Context

In October 2019 the Kincade Fire, which burned about 77,800 acres in Sonoma County, forced AEG and USA Cycling to cancel the Tour of California’s fifth stage. The same fire-response pressure reappeared in 2026 when Bordeaux’s wildfire cut the Tour de France’s final stage from 133 km to 89 km. These disruptions show how California’s 2019 fire season and growing climate-driven wildfire risk increasingly dictate elite cycling routes.

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Pogacar Wins Fifth

Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) won his fifth Tour de France title on July 26 2026, equalling the record.
He finished 6 minutes 26 seconds ahead of Remco Evenepoel, while Isaac del Toro took third.
The 21st stage was shortened to 88.7 km because security forces were redeployed to fight wildfires near Bordeaux.
Pogacar joined Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain as the youngest rider with five Tour victories.

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