Valentin Paret -Peintre triumphed at the Tour de France on the legendary Mont Ventoux – and is entitled to a special list of winners. Florian Lipowitz finished tenth and defended his third place in the classification and the white jersey.
At the 15.7 -kilometer final climb, there was an extremely gripping final with many attacks about the day victory among the outliers that had reached the “giant of Provence” with a big lead. But the tour favorites Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard also got an exchange of blows. The attack of the tour dominators of the past five years was too late. Pogacar became fifth (+ 43 seconds), Vingegaard sixth (+ 45 seconds).
Enric Mas had taken the lead right at the beginning of the climb. 3.9 kilometers before the finish, Ben Healy and Paret-Peinre concluded to the Spaniard. Mas was missing the strength on the last few meters, Paret-Peinre had the largest reserves and prevailed against Healy in the sprint. For the Frenchman from Soudal Quick-Step team, it is the first stage win on the tour. And the 24-year-old has entered the history books of cycling. On Mont Ventoux, very big names of cycling such as Eddy Merckx or Marco Pantani were already winning.
Vingegaard attacks four times
It was only in the middle of the final climb that the first attack by Vingegaard came from the group of classification drivers. Only Pogacar was immediately on the back wheel of the Danes. Vingegaard attacked a second and third time, but his opponent was able to follow again effortlessly. Pogacar attacked for the first time on the last two kilometers, Vingegaard replied with a counter attack. Now it was only seconds to the outliers at the top, but the Dane and the Slovenian could no longer intervene in the fight for the stage victory.
Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar on the final climb
| Year | winner |
|---|---|
1958 | Charly Gaul (time trial) |
1965 | Raymond Polidor |
1970 | Eddy Merckx |
1972 | Bernard Thévenet |
1987 | Jean-Francois Bernard (Zeitfahren) |
2000 | Marco Pantani |
2002 | Richard Virenque |
2009 | Juan Manuel Garate |
2013 | Chris Froome |
2025 | Valentin Paret-Peintra |
Lipowitz extends a head start on onley
Lipowitz finished 1:53 minutes behind and extended his lead over Oscar Onley (+2: 29 minutes) as the third class. Primoz Roglic reached the finish line as ninth second before Lipowitz and moved to fifth place in the overall ranking. When Vingegaard and Pogaca have attacked, “We didn’t have our legs at all because there was asaid Lipowitz in an interview with the sports show. “We focused on getting the boys at a distance that are still fighting for the podium. Primoz and I complemented each other.
The 16th stage over 171.5 kilometers with start in Montpellier had a classic route. With a long attempt, it went through Bedoin the only challenge of the day. 1,910 vertical meters and up to 20 percent climb the professionals had to overcome on the way up to the “giant of Provence”.
The Mont Ventoux is feared by the professionals, especially because of its barren stone landscape on the last kilometers. Here the drivers are exposed to the wind unprotected. The wind should not play a big role this year.
No sprint points for Milan
It took a long time after the start before an outlier group was able to settle properly. After half of the race, the top group consisted of 35 drivers. Ben Healy, who also plays a role in the overall ranking, was there. Jonathan Milan or another driver with serious ambitions in the sprint rating were not there. And so the Italian went out in the green jersey at the intermediate sprint a good 50 kilometers before the finish. Milan’s chances are disappearing in the end in Paris in the rating before Pogacar.
Jonas Abrahamsen secured the 20 sprint points, but the Norwegian can no longer intervene in the fight for the green jersey. Mathieu van der Poel, who was in third place in the rating, could no longer compete due to pneumonia.
MAS 14 kilometers before the finish line alone
After the sprint rating, seven drivers settled, Healy did not make it into the new top group. The lead over the peloton with the yellow jersey was five and a half minutes at that time. At the beginning of the final climb 15.7 kilometers before the finish, there were four outliers – with a lead of over six minutes to the group with Pogacar, Vingegaard and Lipowitz. Also present: Thymen Arensman, Enric Mas, Simone Velasco and Julian Alaphilippe.
Arensman at the top of the outlier group on Mont Ventoux.
MAS then settled 14 kilometers before the finish – and the Spaniard’s struggle began at the top. Behind it, Healy got the second air, struggling closer to MAS. The Briton stepped into the pedals as if unleashed and went out of the saddle again and again. He apparently sensed the chance of his second stage victory on this tour. Healy then hit MAL 3.9 kilometers in front of the finish. In tow, Healy had Valentin Paret-Peinre. In the end, the Frenchman had the most power reserves and won – probably also because Healy had done a lot of leadership work. Third finished Santiago Buidrago.
Sprinter can hope for Wednesday
After a number of mountainous and hilly stages, the sprinter can make hopes for the day victory again on Wednesday. The 17th stage from Bollène to Valence is over 160 kilometers. There are only two mountain ratings of the 4th category, so the Sprinter teams could be able to hold the field together. In 2015 Andre Greipel won in Valence in front of John Degenkolb.