(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Valentin Paret-Peintre Claims Emotional French Victory on Iconic Mont Ventoux
MONT VENTOUX: French cyclist Valentin Paret-Peintre delivered a thrilling win on Stage 16 of the Tour de France 2025, becoming the first French stage winner this year. He surged past Ireland’s Ben Healy in a dramatic finish atop the legendary Mont Ventoux, situated at an altitude of 1,910 meters.
This was the first French victory on Mont Ventoux since Richard Virenque’s memorable triumph in 2002.
Pogacar vs. Vingegaard: Battle for Yellow Intensifies
While the stage victory went to Paret-Peintre, the headline battle for the yellow jersey played out between defending champion Tadej Pogacar and 2023 winner Jonas Vingegaard. Vingegaard launched multiple attacks on the brutal 15km climb, attempting to reduce Pogacar’s overall lead.
Despite battling a cold, Pogacar held strong.
“He attacked many times but I just tried to hold his wheel,” said Pogacar.
By the summit, Pogacar had even extended his overall lead by two seconds. Vingegaard later suffered a minor collision with a motorbike after the finish but was unhurt and showed good sportsmanship by congratulating Pogacar.
Paret-Peintre’s Stunning Final Surge
The fight for the stage win came down to the final meters. Healy, who wore the yellow jersey earlier in the race, seemed poised to secure another stage victory. However, cheered on by the home crowd, Paret-Peintre found the strength to pass Healy with just 20 meters to go, sealing an emotional triumph.
“I was near giving up. Healy was so strong,” said Paret-Peintre. “But I told myself—it’s the Tour de France, Mont Ventoux. I had to give it everything.”
Healy earned the day’s combativity prize and moved up to ninth overall.
Other Highlights
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Florian Lipowitz of Germany solidified his third-place standing, increasing his gap over Scotland’s Oscar Onley in fourth.
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Despite being isolated from teammates, Pogacar resisted all attacks, showcasing his endurance with five stages remaining.
Looking Ahead: Stage 17 and Weather Concerns
Stage 17 is expected to favor sprinters with a 700-meter straight finish in Valence. Top contenders include Tim Merlier, chasing a third stage win, and green jersey leader Jonathan Milan, who is eyeing his second.
However, strong winds up to 50kph are forecast along the 170km route, which could shake up the race dynamics and strategies.
Stay tuned for more updates from the Tour de France as the riders head into the decisive Alpine stages with the yellow jersey still very much in play.
