The final stage on the Champs-Élysées is rarely an active one for the Tour de France leader and so it proved again at the conclusion of the 2021 Tour de France.
Pogačar crossed the line safely alongside his UAE Team Emirates teammates to claim his second Tour de France overall victory in two years. He won the race by five minutes and 20 seconds ahead of Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) and led Richard Carapaz (INEOS Grenadiers) in third by seven minutes and three seconds.
For the second year in a row Pogačar swept up the polka dot and white jerseys too, beating Wout Poels (Bahrain Victorious) by 29 points to the climber's award as Vingegaard finished runner-up in the young rider's classification.
At just 22 years old, Pogačar has already won his second Tour de France, displaying a rare level of attainment in cycling to consistently place himself atop the pile in the hardest stage races in the world. Last year's win came with a whirlwind time trial performance on the penultimate day, but this year's was more of an inevitability after a dominant display in the opening week or competition.
"It's quite different. Last year, I felt strong, incredible emotions," said Pogačar after completing the final stage on Sunday. "This year I'm again here, standing atop the podium, but the feelings are quite different."
"Last year, I should have written a speech for my first Tour de France victory but I didn't know how to write it. Also, this year, I said 'OK, I'm going to speak from the heart and just say what I have to say."
Pogačar thanked friends, family, supporters and his team profusely from atop the podium with the Arc De Triomphe in the background.
"I cannot describe how happy I am to be a part of this family. It melts my heart," he said of his team. "They were with me every day all year preparing for the Tour. I'm just super happy and proud to be a part of this team and this journey."
Speaking later in an interview the question of what the young Slovenian, who seemingly has the cycling world at his feet, will target next and whether he can stay motivated came up. Pogačar has progressed beyond the rate that most cyclists dream of, and already achieved more than most coming to the end of the careers, but the 22-year-old is thinking about slacking off any time soon.
"I will remain motivated in the coming years, but what comes next will come next… I'm not stressed about it," said the now two-time Tour de France winner.
