Image source, Getty Images
Pogacar has dominated many of the races he has contested this season
Ben Collins
BBC Sport journalist
Wout van Aert denied Tadej Pogacar a prestigious win on the final stage of this year's Tour de France as the Slovenian secured his fourth Tour title.
Reigning champion Pogacar had a lead of more than four minutes heading into the final day, when only the stage win would be contested in Paris.
With rain falling in the French capital, the 26-year-old established himself in a six-man breakaway during a thrilling finale on the same circuit used for last year's Olympic race.
But Van Aert attacked on the third and final climb to the Basilica of Sacre Coeur de Montmartre and stretched his lead over the final 5km to clinch victory on the Champs-Elysees.
After a frustrating Tour, the versatile Belgian was able to claim his 10th Tour win, crossing the line 19 seconds before a group of three riders, the latter being Pogacar.
As Pogacar finished he put a hand in the air to celebrate going level with British rider Chris Froome for all-time Tour wins, with only Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain above them (five wins).
Pogacar has also become the first reigning world road champion to win the Tour since Greg LeMond in 1990 and secured the King of the Mountains title for a third time.
Two-time Tour winner Jonas Vingegaard finished the race four minutes 24 seconds behind Pogacar, with Florian Lipowitz third in the general classification standings ahead of British rider Oscar Onley.
Lipowitz, 24, was the best young rider while fellow Tour debutant Jonathan Milan, who is also 24, topped the points classification standings.
More to follow.
Image source, Reuters
Wout van Aert now has 10 stage wins on the Tour de France
Image source, Reuters
Tadej Pogacar previously won the Tour in 2020, 2021 and 2024
Final stage results
Wout van Aert (Bel/Visma-Lease a Bike) 3hrs 7mins 30secs
Davide Ballerini (Ita/XDS Astana) Same time
Matej Mohoric (Slo/Bahrain Victorious)
Tadej Pogacar (Slo/UAE Emirates-XRG)
Matteo Jorgenson (US/Visma-Lease a Bike)
Matteo Trentin (Ita/Tudor)
Arnaud de Lie (Bel/Lotto)
Kevin Vauquelin (Fra/Arkea-B&B Hotels)
Mike Teunissen (Ned/XDS Astana)
Dylan Teuns (Bel/Cofidis)
Final general classification standings
Tadej Pogacar (Slo/UAE Emirates-XRG) 76hrs 32secs
Jonas Vingegaard (Den/Visma-Lease a Bike) +4mins 24secs
Florian Lipowitz (Ger/Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) +11mins
Oscar Onley (GB/Picnic PostNL) +12mins 12secs
Felix Gall (Aut/Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale) +17mins 12secs
Tobias Johannessen (Nor/Uno-X Mobility) +20mins 14secs
Kevin Vauquelin (Fra/Arkea-B&B Hotels) +22mins 35secs
Primoz Roglic (Slo/Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) +25mins 30secs
Ben Healy (Ire/EF Education-EasyPost) +28mins 2secs
Jordan Jegat (Fra/TotalEnergies) +32mins 42secs
Image source, BBC Sport
Pogacar joins Chris Froome on four wins