Frenchman Valentin Paret-Peintre delivered a sensational performance on Tuesday’s stage 16 of the Tour de France, becoming the first French rider to win a stage in the 2025 edition. His victory came after a dramatic duel against Ireland’s Ben Healy, culminating in an electrifying final sprint to the summit of the iconic Mont Ventoux. The mythical climb, notorious for its brutality and historical significance in the race, witnessed another epic chapter as Paret-Peintre summoned every ounce of strength to pass Healy in the final 20 meters and cross the finish line first. The 1910m summit has not seen a French victory since Richard Virenque in 2002, making this a historic moment both for the rider and the home crowd that roared him on through the final, punishing slopes.
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Behind the headline-grabbing stage win, the battle for the overall lead intensified between Jonas Vingegaard and yellow jersey holder Tadej Pogacar. Starting the day 4 minutes and 13 seconds behind, Vingegaard launched multiple attacks on the 15km Mont Ventoux ascent, but Pogacar remained composed and glued to his rival’s wheel throughout the barrage. The Slovenian star, who has been battling a cold during the week, showed no signs of weakness as he managed to contain Vingegaard and extend his lead by an additional two seconds. Vingegaard’s aggression was relentless, but Pogacar’s defense was strategic and confident, balancing tempo with caution to avoid falling into a trap of a counter-attack. Even after the finish line, Vingegaard suffered a minor incident when he was knocked off his bike by a motorbike, though he was unharmed and quickly congratulated Pogacar on another intense duel.
While the race for yellow captivated cycling fans, the front of the stage saw a thrilling head-to-head between Healy and Paret-Peintre. Healy, who wore the yellow jersey earlier in the race and has already claimed a stage win, looked set for a second triumph. But Paret-Peintre, exhausted yet determined, dug deep in the final stretch. His emotional post-race remarks revealed the pain and joy mixed into his monumental win. “I was near giving up. Healy was so strong, but I told myself, it’s the Tour de France, it’s Mont Ventoux,” he said. “That final section suited me better – steeper and perfect for a last push. I gave it everything.” Healy, though narrowly missing out, was recognized for his effort with the combativity award and improved his overall standing to ninth.
As the dust settled on Ventoux, Florian Lipowitz quietly consolidated his third-place standing overall, edging further away from Scotland’s Oscar Onley. With just five stages remaining, including two grueling Alpine climbs, every second now matters for the podium contenders. Pogacar, although isolated from his teammates early on the climb, withstood the Visma team’s attacks and proved again why he’s the man to beat.
Looking ahead, stage 17 is expected to favor the sprinters with a relatively flat 170km route to Valence. Tim Merlier, eyeing a third stage win, and green jersey holder Jonathan Milan are both in the hunt for another victory. However, weather forecasts are casting uncertainty, with 50kph crosswinds predicted along the route. These winds could turn a straightforward sprint finish into a chaotic battle for positioning, and sprinters’ teams will need to remain alert. As the Tour enters its final stages, with physical fatigue setting in and unpredictable weather looming, both the general classification and stage ambitions hang delicately in the balance.
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