Tadej Pogacar outstrips Eddy Merckx and closes further on Mark Cavendish record after Hautacam heroics and mountain TT feat
Updated 20/07/2025 at 15:46 GMT+1
Tadej Pogacar’s victorious summit finish to Hautacam saw the Slovenian move up to sixth on the list of riders with the most all-time Tour de France stage wins. Pogacar stormed the Hautacam climb to win Stage 12 of the Tour and reclaim the general classification lead. He reached his 20th victory at the same age (26) as all-time record holder Mark Cavendish, but still remains 15 behind the Briton.
Stage 12 highlights: Pogacar detonates on Hautacam as Vingegaard and Evenepoel suffer
Video credit: TNT Sports
Tadej Pogacar’s victorious summit finish on the Hautacam at this year's Tour de France saw the UAE Emirates-XRG star move up to sixth on the list of riders with the most all-time stage wins.
The Slovenian stormed the mythical climb to win Stage 12 of the Tour and regain the general classification lead.
The victory was Pogacar’s 20th career Tour de France stage win, a tally which placed him 15 shy of record-holder Mark Cavendish.
It didn't take him long to notch his 21st Tour win though, as the following day he also won the mountain time trial to Peyragudes.
Pogacar could reasonably have Cavendish’s record in his sights, with the pair claiming their first 20 Tour de France wins at identical ages (26).
But while the Briton won all of his record 35 Tour stages in a bunch sprint, Pogacar has demonstrated he can also earn victories in time trials and mountain races.
With the 26-year-old averaging just over three stage wins per each edition of the Tour de France, should he keep up that rate it would take him five more editions of the Tour de France to go level with Cavendish.
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'We were joking' - Pogacar reveals early Narvaez lead-out was unplanned
Video credit: TNT Sports
Three-time Tour de France champion Pogacar also racked up his 20th stage win at a younger age than cycling royalty Eddy Merckx, who reached that number aged 27.
Meanwhile, the Slovenian, who leads the current Tour by some distance over Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike), is now just seven victories away from equalling French five-time Tour de France champion Bernard Hinault’s 28 stage wins.
On current form, you sense nothing is out of reach for the peerless Slovenian.
Most Tour de France stage wins
1. Mark Cavendish - 35 wins
2. Eddy Merckx - 34 wins
3. Bernard Hinault - 28 wins
4. Andre Leducq - 25 wins
5. Andre Darrigade - 22 wins
6. Tadej Pogacar - 20 wins
6. Nicolas Frantz - 20 wins
8. Francois Faber - 19 wins
9. Jean Alavoine - 17 wins
10. Jacques Anquetil - 16 wins
10. Rene Le Greves - 16 wins
10. Charles Pelissier - 16 wins
2. Eddy Merckx - 34 wins
3. Bernard Hinault - 28 wins
4. Andre Leducq - 25 wins
5. Andre Darrigade - 22 wins
6. Tadej Pogacar - 20 wins
6. Nicolas Frantz - 20 wins
8. Francois Faber - 19 wins
9. Jean Alavoine - 17 wins
10. Jacques Anquetil - 16 wins
10. Rene Le Greves - 16 wins
10. Charles Pelissier - 16 wins
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'He has smashed them!' - Pogacar drops brutal early attack on Hautacam
Video credit: TNT Sports
Pogacar’s 21 stage wins
2020 - Stage 9 (Laruns), Stage 15 (Grand-Colombier), Stage 20 (La Planche des Belles Filles)
2021 – Stage 5 (Laval), Stage 17 (Col du Portet), Stage 18 (Luz Ardiden)
2022 - Stage 6 (Longwy), Stage 7 (La Planche des Belles Filles), Stage 17 (Peyragudes)
2023 – Stage 6 (Cauterets), Stage 20 (Le Markstein)
2024 - Stage 4 (Valloire), Stage 14 (Pla d'Adet), Stage 15 (Plateau de Beille), Stage 19 (Isola 2000), Stage 20 (Col de la Couillole), Stage 21 (Nice)
2025 - Stage 4 (Rouen), Stage 7 (Mur de Bretagne), Stage 12 (Hautacam), Stage 13 (Peyragudes)
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