Cycling in rude health thanks to Pogacar and testing

What the report says

BBC Sport reports that the 2026 Tour de France ended in Paris with Tadej Pogacar securing a fifth overall title, placing him level with Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain for the most officially recognised Tour wins. The finale also featured Mathieu van der Poel winning the last stage on the Champs-Elysees, while large crowds gathered around Montmartre and Sacre-Coeur after the route’s return to the cobbled hill.

The BBC frames Pogacar’s latest victory as part of a wider debate about his standing in cycling history, noting his success across different race formats and major events beyond the Tour. It also says his achievement came during a race in which illness affected parts of UAE-Team Emirates-XRG. The article stresses that the Tour remains among elite sport’s most demanding competitions.

Anti-doping scrutiny was another focus. The BBC says the International Testing Agency carried out rare night-time controls during the race as an “exceptional operation,” with all riders tested at some point. The report says there is no suggestion of wrongdoing by Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard or other riders tested at night, while explaining that such checks may help detect or deter micro-dosing. EF Education-Easypost boss Jonathan Vaughters told the BBC the testing reduced, rather than increased, his doubts.

The report also highlights cycling’s growing spectator appeal, citing estimates of 500,000 people in Paris and another 500,000 on Alpe d’Huez. Britain is due to host six stages across the men’s and women’s Tours next summer, with British Cycling reporting its highest participation figure since 2019-20.