Tadej Pogačar clinches fifth Tour de France win, returns to Komenda for three‑day celebration
Tadej Pogačar secured his fifth overall victory in the 2026 Tour de France, finishing 6 minutes 26 seconds ahead of Remco Evenepoel. The Slovenian rider also topped the points and mountain classifications, receiving a crystal‑styled trophy designed by Škoda, which supplied 225 electric support cars for the race.
Following the Tour, Pogačar headed back to his hometown of Komenda, where a three‑day Pogi Challenge cycling festival was staged. The event combined a criterium named after him with the “S klanca v klanec” climb, drawing more than a thousand participants and a crowd of thousands of spectators. World‑Tour riders such as Isaac del Toro, Felix Grossschartner, Tim Wellens and others competed, while Pogačar won the criterium, collecting 22 points.
Pogačar praised the atmosphere in Komenda, saying it felt even better than the famed Alpe d’Huez finish. The festival also featured a helicopter transfer arranged by Domen Prevc from the nearby Krvavec ski area to the start line. Škoda’s involvement extended beyond vehicles, with the brand creating new crystal trophies for the race’s major classifications.
Entities: Chris Froome · Komenda, Slovenia · Pogi Challenge · Remco Evenepoel · Richard Carapaz · Tadej Pogacar · Tour de France · UAE Team Emirates · Vuelta a España · Yannis Voisard · Škoda Auto
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] All proceeds from the auction of Pogačar’s personal items will be donated to the Fundacija Tadeja Pogačarja, which supports children with serious illnesses. (5ed94692-945f-439f-a709-18f21d0edf48)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The criterium race will be 35 laps on a 980‑metre circuit, with points awarded rather than first‑across‑line victory. (2487edec-617f-4ed9-8ae7-d1d290ac7cc0, 1fdfc9c4-b66e-4fdd-b0df-278ec612f575)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The venue has been moved from the municipal building area to a larger grassy field near the criterium route. (c357f467-0c03-4dc8-838a-e3311488b578, 1fdfc9c4-b66e-4fdd-b0df-278ec612f575)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Domen Prevc will transport Pogačar by helicopter from Krvavec to Komenda after the climb. (c357f467-0c03-4dc8-838a-e3311488b578)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The event is organized by the agency Extrem, with project manager Tevž Ribič. (c357f467-0c03-4dc8-838a-e3311488b578, 1fdfc9c4-b66e-4fdd-b0df-278ec612f575)
- [● 3 SOURCES] About 1,200 participants will start the “S klanca v klanec” climb. (191eea99-ee3f-49b1-b20c-4215881ee988, 2487edec-617f-4ed9-8ae7-d1d290ac7cc0)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The festival combines the August criterium named after Pogačar and the 'S klanca v klanec' climb into a three‑day program. (5ed94692-945f-439f-a709-18f21d0edf48, c357f467-0c03-4dc8-838a-e3311488b578)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Tadej Pogačar will return to his hometown Komenda for the Pogi Challenge three‑day cycling festival. (e1730c20-0fc0-4645-9850-083563a68834,5ed94692-945f-439f-a709-18f21d0edf48,c357f467-0c03-4dc8-838a-e3311488b578,1fdfc9c4-)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Yannis Voisard finished 11th in the 2026 Tour de France, five minutes behind Jordan Jegat and 18 minutes ahead of Tobias Johannessen. (766b4be2-6ae1-48e2-ab5b-0d2a68a0cb5c)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Chris Froome said he would not be in the top‑20 today because Pogacar has raised the performance bar. (491c6c1b-bd03-4c9f-9657-726c29850038)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Organisers of the Vuelta a España publicly expressed a strong desire for Tadej Pogačar to race, noting his participation would raise the event’s profile. (257e807a-13d2-4ebd-ba54-edac384013a8)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Pogacar has won the Tour de France in 2020, 2021, 2024, 2025 and 2026. (c3915266-0662-4e15-89ea-60a44b069c02)