After Sunday’s 21st and final stage in Paris, the 27-year-old Slovenian joined Belgian Eddy Merckx, Spaniard Miguel Indurain, and Frenchmen Jacques Anquetil and Bernard Hinault as the only riders to win five Tour titles.
kAm!@8242C 7:?:D965 e >:?FE6D[ ae D64@?5D 29625 @7 q6=8:2? C:56C #6>4@ tG6?6A@6=[ 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^E@FC\DE286\`e\A@8242C\6G6?6A@6=\76763hgh`32d73hd7`6df6feacfg5c5bQmE:>6 EC:2= 8C62Ek^2m[ 😕 E96 @G6C2== DE2?5:?8D]k^Am
kAmy@?2D ‘:?86822C5[ H9@ H2D @?46 !@8242CVD 3:8 C:G2=[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^E@FC\G:?86822C5\4C2D9\232?5@?D\f__hfgfb2g_h`h3fcgc3`_777h2253c2Qm4C2D965 @FE @7 E96 C246k^2m @? E96 `dE9 DE286] ‘:?86822C5[ 2 7@C>6C 7:D9 724E@CJ H@C<6C 7C@> s6?>2C<[ H@? E96 %@FC 😕 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^DA@CED\7C2?46\A2C:D\4J4=:?8\E@FC\56\ahc4_gabc_ef6dhbd7h5g3e2ghc2cfc4Qma_aak^2m 2?5 V k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^G:?86822C5\E@FC\56\7C2?46\A@8242C\c5`gbf5`h`d523b3cbc6`gbec7g2f5c`Qmabk^2m] u@C 9:D D64@?5 E:E=6[ 96 362E !@8242C 3J >@C6 E92? D6G6? >:?FE6D 😕 2 C6DF=E E92E AFE E96> =6G6= 2E a\a 7@C %@FC E:E=6D]k^Am
kAm!@8242C 92D D:?46 H@? E96 %@FC E9C66 DEC2:89E E:>6D] ‘:?86822C5[ 56DA:E6 4=:?49:?8 E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^:DC26=\82K2\AC@E6DE\4J4=:?8\DA2?:D9\GF6=E2\G:?86822C5\`fhea6bgg`h`bgcb6hah3afhf7d_gh`bQm$A2?:D9 ‘F6=E2k^2m =2DE $6AE6>36C 2?5 E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^8:C@\5:E2=:2\G:?86822C5\492>A:@?\4J4=:?8\bc72gheddbfc565b4“_4db2`727hha6Qmv:C@ 5VxE2=:2k^2m 62C=:6C E9:D J62C[ 32C6=J >FDE6C65 2 492==6?86 2E E9:D %@FC] w6 5:5 3C:67=J H62C E96 J6==@H ;6CD6J[ 3FE E92E H2D E92? 677@CE 27E6C ‘:D>2\{62D6 2 q:<6 E62> H@? E96 @A6?:?8\52J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^E@FC\56\7C2?46\A@8242C\32C46=@?2\DE2CE\76ge4fa72a2g3cgadgc3`3h63dgbaeagQmE62> E:>6 EC:2=k^2m 😕 q2C46=@?2]k^Am
kAm!@8242C H@? 7:G6 DE286D 2?5 ?@H 92D ae @G6C2==] w6 DE:== ?665D `_ DE286 H:?D E@ 3C62< k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^42G6?5:D9\E@FC\56\7C2?46\DE286\C64@C5\>6C42J E2<6 EH@ J62CD 8:G6? E92E !@8242C’D 36DE 😕 2 D:?8=6 65:E:@? 😀 D:I[ 5FC:?8 E96 a_ac %@FC]k^Am
k9amr2? 2?J@?6 492==6?86 !@8242Cnk^9am
kAm’:?86822C5 😀 ah 2?5 92D E:>6 E@ H:? >@C6 %@FCD[ 3FE ?665D E@ 7:?5 2 H2J E@ 492==6?86 !@8242C 282:? 😕 E96 9:89 4=:>3D]k^Am
kAm~E96CH:D6[ E96 =:DE @7 4@?E6?56CD 😀 D=:>]k^Am
kAm!2F= $6:I2D 42CC:6D E96 C6?6H65 9@A6D @7 uC6?49 DFAA@CE6CD[ c` J62CD 27E6C E96 =2DE @7 w:?2F=EVD H:?D] %96 `h\J62C\@=5 $6:I2D A=2465 7@FCE9 @? 9:D %@FC 563FE 2?5 76==@H uC6?49>2? {6??J |2CE:?6K[ H9@ 😀 2? 6I46==6?E 4=:>36C[ A=2465 7:7E9 @G6C2==]k^Am
kAmq@E9 2C6 C:56CD @7 E96 7FEFC6]k^Am
kAm|2CE:?6K[ ab[ 3=6H E96 492?46 @7 2 DE286 H:? @? E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^E@FC567C2?46\A@8242C\DE286\`h\2=A6\59F6K\2_ga56a45_“geefh2h5b3`e6da4462dQm:4@?:4 p=A6 5VwF6Kk^2m H96? 96 5:5?VE H@C< AC@A6C=J H:E9 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^E@FC\DE286\`g\42C2A2K\A@8242C\4db`chhd`_e4755eeada62`be6e2cebfQm#:492C5 r2C2A2Kk^2m E@ 5:DE2?46 !@8242C =@H6C 5@H? E96 4=:>3]k^Am
kAmr2C2A2K H@? EH@ >@F?E2:? DE286D 3FE E96 bb\J62C\@=5 t4F25@C:2? H2D ?@E 2 E9C62E 7@C E96 E:E=6 2?5 !@8242C 5:5?VE ?665 E@ 492D6 9:>] %96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^42C2A2K\H:?D\8:C@\5:E2=:2\9282\4=:?496D\7:?2=\DE286\7e2375gb7a77ce6ghb7g7fdg22b26cedQma_`h v:C@ 5VxE2=:2 H:??6Ck^2m 😀 2? 2EE24<:?8 C:56C[ 3FE 25G2?4:?8 J62CD — 2?5 E96 724E 96 A=2465 a_ >:?FE6D 369:?5 !@8242C @G6C2== — 5:>:?:D9 E96 492==6?86 96 A@D6D E@ !@8242C 😕 7FEFC6]k^Am
kAm~?=J E96 ae\J62C\@=5 tG6?6A@6= 2AA62CD E@ 92G6 2? @FED:56 492?46 @7 E@AA=:?8 !@8242C] %96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^6G6?6A@6=\C@>2?5:6\E@FC\7C2?46\cd7f2ee37_6f7ac_agfd763a_eg7_`cbQmEH@\E:>6 ~=J>A:4 492>A:@?k^2m 42? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^E@FC\DE286\`e\A@8242C\6G6?6A@6=\76763hgh`32d73hd7`6df6feacfg5c5bQm362E !@8242Ck^2m 😕 E:>6 EC:2=D 2?5 😀 J@F?8 6?@F89 E@ :>AC@G6 😕 E96 >@F?E2:?D] w6 C@56 H6== E@ H:? E96 `dE9 DE286[ 2=36:E 27E6C ‘:?86822C5 925 4C2D965]k^Am
kAmw6 😀 A2CE @7 2? 2>3:E:@FD #65 qF==\q@C2\w2?D8C@96 E62> H9:49 92D 3:8 7:?2?4:2= 324<:?8 2?5 4@F=5 J6E 3F:=5 2 H:??:?8 E62> 2C@F?5 9:>] w@H6G6C[ E96 E62> >FDE 564:56 H9@ E@ 324< 2D }@] ` C:56C 36EH66? tG6?6A@6= 2?5 v6C>2? 4=:>36C u=@C:2? {:A@H:EK[ H9@ H2D E9:C5 @? =2DE J62CVD %@FC]k^Am
kAm!@8242C’D &pt %62> t>:C2E6D E62>>2E6 xD224 s6= %@C@[ 2 aa\J62C\@=5 |6I:42? >2<:?8 9:D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^E@FC\56\7C2?46\E@C@\A@8242C\G:?86822C5\2h2hdg374c7g466hfe_aba3cbf73efg3Qm%@FC 563FEk^2m[ A=2465 E9:C5 @G6C2== 3FE C6>2:?D F?56C !@8242CVD H:?8 2D 9:D 6=:E6 DFAA@CE C:56C]k^Am
k9am$A2?:D9 ‘F6=E2nk^9am
Story continues below video
kAmxE 92D 366? 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^E@FC\56\7C2?46\AC6G:6H\A@8242C\G:?86822C5\D6:I2D\h2432cg7_`abe4762`fhhf_d37ee6cchQm8C62E J62Ck^2m 7@C !@8242C]k^Am
kAmw6 H@? DE286 C246D 2E E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^A@8242C\E@FC\DF:DD6\7C2?46\_577b_4`5fg_5a72bha2`6ef6h_c4h43Qm%@FC 56 $F:DD6k^2m 2?5 E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^C@>2?5:6\A@8242C\=:A@H:EK\a6d4f`hh6de5eafcb`7`24gd`c36_`66Qm%@FC 56 #@>2?5:6k^2m[ 2D H6== 2D DEF??:?8 G:4E@C:6D 😕 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^E@FC\7=2?56CD\A@8242C\G2?\56C\A@6=\`c7cfd3`cb4fedad42ce533d52aea`h4Qm@?6\52J 4=2DD:4Dk^2m]k^Am
kAm!@8242C H@? E96 v:C@ 5’xE2=:2 3J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^8:C@\5:E2=:2\A@8242C\g4e`737e2_g4d6a7352d7d7g7g_64___Qm2 9F86 >2C8:? 😕 a_ack^2m]k^Am
kAmqFE F?=:<6 ‘:?86822C5[ w:?2F=E[ p?BF6E:=[ 2?5 |6C4kAm“(:== x 36 2E {2 ‘F6=E2 😕 2 76H H66
k9amt2C=J\>@C?:?8 E6DEDk^9am
kAm%9:D J62CVD C246 >256 9625=:?6D H96? !@8242C 2?5 ‘:?86822C5 925 F?2??@F?465 2?E:\5@A:?8 E6DED 😕 E96 62C=J 9@FCDi d 2]>] 7@C !@8242C 2?5 a 2]>] 7@C ‘:?86822C5]k^Am
kAm$@>6 72?D H6C6 @FEC2865[ 2?5 tG6?6A@6= 56D4C:365 E96 E:>:?8 2D “G6CJ 5:DC6DA64E7F=” E@ C:56CD 5FC:?8 2? 6I92FDE:?8 C246]k^Am
kAm!@8242C DF886DE65 72E:8F6 >2J 92G6 A=2J65 2 724E@C 😕 ‘:?86822C5VD 4C2D9 =2E6C E92E 52J] w@H6G6C[ !@8242C =2E6C 2446AE65 E92E C2?5@>\9@FC E6DE:?8 96=AD :>AC@G6 EC2?DA2C6?4J]k^Am
kAmrJ4=:?8’D 8@G6C?:?8 3@5J[ E96 &rx[ 92D 6?ECFDE65 %@FC E6DE:?8 D:?46 a_a` E@ E96 $H:DD\32D65 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^:E2]DA@CE^Qmx?E6C?2E:@?2= %6DE:?8 p86?4Jk^2m[ H9:49 D2:5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^E@FC\56\7C2?46\2?E:5@A:?8\E6DED\286?4J\6h763d3`2_53f`h`bgd_c76h_f3hh4aeQm4@CC64E AC@465FC6Dk^2m H6C6 7@==@H65]k^Am
k9ampC>DEC@?8VD 52>286k^9am
kAm%96 DA@CEVD C6AFE2E:@? H2D 325=J 9:E H96? {2?46 pC>DEC@?8 H2D DEC:AA65 @7 9:D D6G6? %@FC E:E=6D W`hhh\a__dX 27E6C k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^86?6C2=\?6HD\334a72h3“`6c`aeg6_7haeecb`a76`bQm4@?76DD:?8 😕 a_`bk^2m E@ 92G:?8 FD65 A6C7@C>2?46\6?92?4:?8 5CF8D] %H@ J62CD =2E6C[ 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^7666a`d`3g`ecf622262f7722ac`f6d6Qmaaf\A286 C6A@CEk^2m 56E2:=65 4J4=:?8’D 9:DE@C:4 4F=EFC6 @7 5CF8 FD6]k^Am
kAmqC:E:D9 C:56C r9C:D uC@@>6[ H9@ H@? E96 %@FC 7@FC E:>6D Wa_`b 2?5 a_`d\`fX H96? ECFDE 😕 4J4=:?8 @G6C2== H2D G6CJ =@H 7@==@H:?8 E96 pC>DEC@?8 D42?52=[ D2:5 96 28C665 H:E9 E96 62C=J\>@C?:?8 E6DED]k^Am
kAm“xE 😀 D@>6E9:?8 E92E[ 2D C:56CD[ x ;FDE E9:?< H6 92G6 E@ 6>3C246[” 96 D2:5 😕 2? :?E6CG:6H H:E9 qC:E:D9 ?6HDA2A6C %96 %6=68C2A9] “~FC 5@@CD 2=H2JD 92G6 E@ 36 @A6?[ C682C5=6DD @7 9@H :?4@?G6?:6?E :E 😀 ]]] E@ :?DA:C6 4@?7:56?46 2?5 E@ 24E 2D 2 56E6CC6?E]”k^Am
k9C ^m
kAmp! DA@CEDi k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^DA@CEDQm9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^DA@CEDk^2mk^Am
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.