Chris Froome Fades as Tadej Pogacar Dominates Tour de France

Chris Froome's era as a dominant Grand Tour rider has come to a close, with Tadej Pogacar now at the forefront of the sport. On 07 Jul 2026, Pogacar arrived in Barcelona seeking a record-equalling fifth Tour de France title.

What happened to Chris Froome?

Chris Froome rarely received the plaudits Pogacar has gotten, but won seven Grand Tours, including four yellow jerseys, in a stunning period of dominance that paved the way for the Slovenian.

Froome's career was marked by a horror crash in 2019, which left his body irreparably altered, and another sickening crash last year with near-fatal consequences.

Why it matters for Chris Froome

Froome's successor, Tadej Pogacar, has burned far brighter, but the cautionary tale Froome offers is that success can vanish quickly in cycling.

The UAE Team Emirates-XRG has taken the "Sky train" model and created an unstoppable monster that controls stages from start to finish.

What comes next?

Tadej Pogacar will resume his duel with Jonas Vingegaard, who has won two of the last three Grand Tours, albeit not the one he really wants.

Pogacar has won six of the seven races he has started this year, including three of the four Monuments raced so far, with 11 wins from 16 days on the bike.

The supporting cast features fellow bridesmaid Remco Evenepoel, who must share leadership with last year's best young rider and his successor as third-place finisher, Florian Lipowitz.

The battle between Pogacar and Vingegaard will be a fascinating one, with the individual time trial setting up a fascinating battle on the slightly hillier parcours of the ITT in this race.

Pogacar's dominance has raised questions about the competitiveness of the Tour de France, with few predicting that Jannik Sinner would utterly implode at the French Open.

The 27-year-old Pogacar has at his core a genuine freak of nature, whom even the likes of Froome would struggle to keep up with.

At the moment, it is Pogacar's world, and the rest of the peloton simply lives in it.

The team presentation in Barcelona saw Pogacar sporting a bleach-blond buzzcut, shades, and a beaming smile, the picture of confidence after his recent wins.

The Tour de France will be an exciting event, with Pogacar and Vingegaard set to battle it out for the top spot.

Froome's legacy will be remembered as one of dominance and grit, but it is now Pogacar's time to shine.

The road cycling world will be watching as Pogacar attempts to make history and claim his fifth Tour de France title.

With his current form, it seems likely that Pogacar will succeed in his bid for glory, but the Tour de France is known for its unpredictability.

Only time will tell if Pogacar can continue his dominance and make history in the world of road cycling.