Tadej Pogačar: Tour de France 2020 Champion

The amazing tale of the UAE Team Emirates Tour de France 2020 journey ended on the Champs-Elysses in Paris, with Tadej Pogačar claiming the ultimate prize of victory.

Pogačar, still just 21 years old (the youngest winner since 1904)  also claimed the polka dot and the best young rider classification, as well as having won three stages (9th, 15th and 20th).

The success of the Emirati team is also topped off by the triumph of Alexander Kristoff in Nice who won the opening stage of the Tour, with the Norwegian wearing the yellow jersey on stage 2.

The heights of glory reached by UAE Team Emirates in France represent the pinnacle of the young sporting history of the United Arab Emirates.

The final stage was won by Sam Bennett (Deceuninck-Quick Step) ahead of world champion Mads Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo);  with a solid 4th place going to Alexander Kristoff.

Pogačar: “It has been a long journey, which began well before we started in Nice and has ended in the most beautiful way.  My season was focused on the Tour de France from the start of the year, the preparation was perfect and well planned by the team with training camps and training plans during the lockdown: I was always focused even in the difficult moments when the racing stopped earlier in the year.

I arrived at the Grande Boucle in good shape, along the way we lost two teammates, but the team managed to maintain a great atmosphere.  It was a pleasure to experience this, with all my teammates and staff members by my side, the challenges that the Tour offered up every day, trying to always remain calm and, at the same time, concentrated. I really still can’t believe what fantastic moments I have lived!

It would have been great to finish second in Paris, but being here in the yellow jersey is the best you can ask for.

Today was a special day, I was able to finally chat calmly with the other riders while we rode.  It was exciting to receive the compliments of so many riders in the bunch.

Cycling is a beautiful sport.”

At the Tour de France, the Emirati team was represented by rookie Tadej Pogačar (Slovenia), David De La Cruz (Spain), Alexander Kristoff (Norway), Vegard Stake Laengen (Norway), Marco Marcato (Italy), Jan Polanc (  Slovenia), as well as Fabio Aru (Italy) and Davide Formolo (Italy), both of whom unfortunately did not reach Paris.

UAE Team Emirates now hold a total of 29 victories to their name this season.

Stage 21 results:

1. Sam Bennett (Deceuninck-Quick Step) 2h53’32”

2. Mads Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo) s.t.

3. Peter Sagan (Bora-hansgrohe) s.t.

4. Alexander Kristoff (UAE Team Emirates) s.t.

Final general classification:

1. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) 87h20’05”

2. Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) +59 “

3. Richie Porte (Trek-Segafredo) +3’30 “