Tadej Pogacar: Tour de France champion has just done something no cyclist in history ever has
Updated 29/07/2025 at 14:52 GMT+1
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Tadej Pogacar's week just keeps getting better after he topped the UCI world rankings for a record-breaking spell following his fourth Tour de France triumph. It is the 200th consecutive week the UAE Emirates-XRG rider has led the way after breaking into the top spot back in September 2021, nearly four years ago. Mads Pedersen is the new No. 2, with Mathieu van der Poel occupying fourth.
Victorious Pogacar wants 'week off' and 'hot days' before making Vuelta decision
Video credit: TNT Sports
Fresh from claiming his fourth title at the 2025 Tour de France, Tadej Pogacar has topped the UCI world rankings for a landmark 200th consecutive week.
Pogacar (UAE Emirates-XRG) will no doubt look to match the all-time record for Tour de France victories next year and draw level with Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain on five crowns.
But he has already smashed another record with his landmark week at No. 1 - the first rider ever to achieve the feat.
Pogacar has held the top rank for almost four years, since he began his stint at the summit on September 28, 2021.
Pogacar clinched his second Tour de France title in 2021 before he went on to lead the rankings, and since then, he has claimed two more general classification wins at the iconic race, as well as a Giro d'Italia victory in 2024.
The world road race title, Criterium du Dauphine, Tour of Flanders, Liege-Bastogne-Liege, Paris-Nice and Volta a Catalunya are just a handful of his other achievements in that time - some of which he has claimed on more than one occasion.
Elsewhere in the UCI world rankings - updated on Tuesday - Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) rose to No. 2, followed by Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck), reshuffling with new No. 4 Remco Evenepoel (Soudal–Quick-Step) and Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) now in fifth.
Despite the speculation, it does not look like Pogacar will add the Vuelta a Espana title to his stunning CV this summer.
It was confirmed by UAE on Tuesday that Pogacar has not been included in the team for August's race.
"I’m super happy that it’s over," Pogacar said after the Tour de France. "But I quite enjoyed the whole Tour and I think I will maybe already miss it next week.
"It was a pleasure to be here, to wear this yellow jersey, to ride with my team-mates and fight against all my opponents."
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On the upcoming Vuelta, which begins in August, he added: "Let's take one week easy now. I want to enjoy some summer days.
"We were training so many times for heat adaptation and in the end the Tour was not so hot, so I want some hot days now, but without the suffering on the bike.
"Let's take a week off and see from then on."
In the wake of his latest triumph in France, 26-year-old Pogacar committed to racing at the 2028 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles, which he has outlined as "one of his goals" before he starts thinking about retirement.
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