### Tadej Pogačar's Quest for Cycling Greatness: Aiming for a Fourth Tour de France Title - Tadej Pogačar, the 26-year-old Slovenian cyclist, is set to defend his title at the 2025 Tour de France, which begins on July 5 in Lille. Pogačar has already made history by becoming the first cyclist since 1998 to win both the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France in the same season. His impressive track record includes three Tour victories and a strong performance in the previous year's edition, where he won six stages and secured the overall title [https://www.thenationalnews.com/sport/2025/07/04/tadej-pogacar-confident-he-can-lead-uae-team-emirates-to-glory-again-at-tour-de-france, https://www.dhakatribune.com/sport/other-sports/385439/tour-de-france-director-pogacar-must-battle-for]. ### Structure of Pogačar's Title Defense 1. **Current Form and Preparation** - Pogačar has had a successful season leading up to the Tour, winning the UAE Tour and several one-day races, including Liège-Bastogne-Liège. He also triumphed in the Criterium du Dauphine, a key warm-up event [https://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/news/world/europe/dominant-poga-ar-and-resurgent-vingegaard-set-to-ignite-tour-de-france/article_e7f00844-0588-56bc-8c65-8b4ae549d1cb.html, https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/sports-games/3484091-tadej-pogacar-sets-sights-on-fourth-tour-de-france-triumph]. 2. **Team Support** - Pogačar will be backed by a strong UAE Team Emirates squad, including five teammates from his Dauphine victory and other top riders like Adam Yates and Joao Almeida, who have also shown strong performances in previous races [https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/sports-games/3487076-tadej-pogacar-aiming-for-a-fourth-tour-de-france-title, https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/pogacar-eyes-fourth-tour-crown-as-rivals-scramble-to-keep-pace]. 3. **Rivalry and Competition** - His main competitors include Jonas Vingegaard, the Danish cyclist who has previously challenged Pogačar for the title, and Remco Evenepoel, both of whom are looking to exploit any weaknesses in Pogačar's performance [https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2025/jul/03/tadej-pogacar-jonas-vingegaard-are-tour-de-frances-top-contenders-again, https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/bernard-hinault-backs-complete-rider-tadej-pogacar-for-tour-de-france-glory]. ### Supporting Evidence and Data - **Pogačar's Achievements:** - **Tour de France Titles:** 3 (2020, 2021, 2024) - **Giro d'Italia and Tour Double:** First since Marco Pantani in 1998 - **Stage Wins in 2024 Tour:** 6 [https://www.apnews.com/article/tour-de-france-guide-pogacar-vingegaard-3b744172d50389c471bdf4ed03d6e1ac]. - **Team Composition:** - Key riders supporting Pogačar include: - Joao Almeida (POR) - Jhonatan Narvaez (ECU) - Nils Politt (GER) - Pavel Sivakov (FRA) - Marc Soler (ESP) - Tim Wellens (BEL) - Adam Yates (GBR) [https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2025/jun/27/tadej-pogacars-bid-for-fourth-tour-de-france-win-backed-by-strong-team]. ### Conclusion: Pogačar's Path to Glory - **Pogačar is poised to make history** by potentially securing his fourth Tour de France title, further solidifying his status as one of cycling's all-time greats. His preparation, team support, and previous successes position him as the favorite, but the competition remains fierce. 1. **Preparation and Form:** Pogačar's successful season and strong performances in lead-up races indicate he is in peak condition. 2. **Team Strength:** The UAE Team Emirates squad is robust, featuring several riders who have proven their capabilities in high-stakes races. 3. **Rivalry Dynamics:** While Pogačar is the favorite, rivals like Vingegaard and Evenepoel are determined to challenge him, making the upcoming Tour a highly anticipated event [https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/sports-games/3489587-preview-cycling-pogacar-eyes-fourth-tour-crown-as-rivals-scramble-to-keep-pace, https://www.nbcsports.com/cycling/tour-de-france/news/tour-de-france-2025-tadej-pogacar-jonas-vingegaard-and-more-cyclists-to-watch].