HISTORY BOY’S A TAD SPECIAL
‘ Incredible’ triumph for 21- year- old
TADEJ POGACAR ripped up the record books as he was crowned Tour de France champion.
Pogacar overhauled long- term race leader and fellow countryman Primoz Roglic with a stunning time trial win on Saturday to claim the Yellow Jersey on his Tour debut.
With the race leader not challenged on the final stage, Pogacar finished comfortably in the peloton.
Pogacar, the first Slovenian winner and first champion on debut since Laurent Fignon in 1983, won three stages in total.
He also won the Polka Dot Jersey as king of the mountains and the White Jersey for best young rider.
Pogacar, 22 today, became the youngest Tour champion in 116 years after a first Tour win for UAE Team Emirates ended a run of five straight titles for British team Ineos.
After the first one- two for one country since Bradley Wiggins finished ahead of fellow Briton Chris Froome in 2012, Pogacar said: “This is an incredible feeling, standing here in Paris on the top of the podium.
“It was an amazing three weeks, an incredible journey.
“It was three memorable weeks on the French roads, with incredible crowds. I won’t find the words to express my feelings.”
Roglic finished 59 seconds back in second after having held the Yellow Jersey for 13 days while Australia’s Richie Porte finished in third.
Britain’s Adam Yates, who held the Yellow Jersey for four days before Roglic grabbed it on stage nine, ended ninth overall.
But it was also a day to remember for Sam Bennett.
The 29- year- old, left, won the final sprint in Paris, crossing the line ahead of world champion Mads Pedersen to become only the second Irishman to win the Green Jersey after Sean Kelly.
“I never thought I’d ever be able to win this stage and to do it in green is so special,” said Bennett.