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15: Pogacar matches Cavendish and passes Merckx
With a 15th stage win, Tadej Pogacar joins Freddy Maertens at the 12th spot of the all-time rankings for most victories in the Tour de France.
But if we look at successes claimed before the age of 26, the Slovenian cannibal joins Mark Cavendish and François Faber as the riders with most stage wins, 1 step ahead of Eddy Merckx (14) and 2 ahead of Bernard Hinault (13).
1984: A yellow winner like Fignon
With a 3rd stage win with the Maillot Jaune on his shoulders this year, Tadej Pogacar achieves a feat not seen in the Tour since 1984. That year, a flamboyant Laurent Fignon enforced his rule at La Plagne, Crans-Montana and Villefranche-sur-Saône.
Pogacar’s yellow successes in the Tour 2024 were claimed at Saint-Lary-Soulan Pla d’Adet (stage 14), Plateau de Beille (stage 15) and Isola 2000 (stage 19), after he claimed the Maillot Jaune in Valloire (stage 4).
37: A Merckxian rule
With a 17th Maillot Jaune in the Tour 2024, to go along with 20 Maglia Rosa in the Giro, Tadej Pogacar has now claimed 37 Grand Tour leader’s jerseys this year, as many as Eddy Merckx in 1970 (23 in the Tour, 14 in the Giro).
That’s the best tally ever over a single year. Chris Froome follows with the 34 leader’s jerseys he claimed in the Tour and La Vuelta in 2017.
2,802: Carapaz flies to La Bonette
As part of the breakaway, Richard Carapaz went first over the highest summit in the history of the Tour de France, Cime de la Bonette, at a mighty 2,802m of altitude. The Ecuadorian history maker is used to altitude, as he comes from El Carmelo, at a similar height as La Bonette.
He also went first atop Col de Vars (2,109m) earlier in the stage, after he had claimed Col de la Madeleine (2,000m) in the Tour 2020.
3: Carapaz reunites with the polka-dots
With another strong stage in the mountains, Richard Carapaz is the new leader of the KOM standings, 14 points ahead of Tadej Pogacar. The Ecuadorian climber had already led the standings for 2 days in 2020, following his successful breakaway with Michal Kwiatkowski towards La Roche-sur-Foron (stage 18).
At the time, he was just 2 points ahead of Pogacar. And the Slovenian overtook him on the penultimate stage, winning the La Planche des Belles Filles time trial. On the final day, Carapaz was still wearing the polka-dot jersey but Pogacar, shining in yellow, eventually took it on the podium.
2: Jorgenson’s late heartbreaks
When Tadej Pogacar bridged the gap to him just inside the last 2km, after he had spent most of the ascent of Isola 2000 alone at the front, Matteo Jorgenson couldn’t resist. He eventually finished 2nd (+21’’), one spot ahead of his previous best Tour result, last year in Belleville-en-Beaujolais. But the American all-rounder mostly left his mark on the Puy de Dôme ascent, where he was still leading the race with 500 metres to go, before Michael Woods passed him. Jorgenson finished 4th on that day.
259: Thomas is a proper veteran
As he rode his 259th stage in the Tour de France from Embrun to Isola 2000, Geraint Thomas passed Edvald Boasson Hagen (258 stages) as the active rider with most stage starts.
His record in the Tour started in 2007 and it includes 3 stage wins and the overall victory in 2018. He was already there in 2013, when a time-trial started from Embrun and saw his leader at the time Chris Froome all but seal his first GC victory.
The all-time record is held by Joop Zoetemelk, with 403 stages between 1970 and 1986.
