Cycling: Valentin Paret-Peintre has won the 16th stage. On Mont Ventoux, the Frenchman celebrates the first French stage victory of this year's Tour de France. Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard are separated by just two seconds at the summit. Florian Lipowitz further extends his lead to fourth place in the overall standings.
Paret-Peintre causes French jubilation
The 171,5-kilometer stage from Montpellier to Mont Ventoux lived up to expectations as a spectacular event. In the end, the French celebrated: Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal – Quick-Step) took the stage win from a breakaway group ahead of Ben Healy (EF Education – EasyPost). Behind them, the top favorites almost closed the gap – but only almost. Tadej Pogacar (UAE – XRG) confidently defended his overall lead, finishing two seconds ahead of Jonas Vingegaard (Visma – Lease a Bike). Florian Lipowitz (RB – Bora – hansgrohe) was strong once again, even extending his lead over fourth place while in third.
Politt against the rest of the world
Unfortunately , Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin – Deceuninck) was unable to start today's 16th stage of the Tour de France . Team doctors diagnosed the Dutchman with pneumonia on the rest day and therefore ruled him out of the race. The Swiss team had high hopes for today's stage. Marco Haller (Tudor) and Marc Hirschi (Tudor), along with Xandro Meurisse (Alpecin – Deceuninck), launched an early attack. However, this trio, like the numerous other breakaway riders, was not allowed to get away. Nils Politt (UAE – XRG) neutralized every attack. Tadej Pogacar 's (UAE – XRG) team wanted to allow only a few riders into the breakaway group, sending a clear message to their rivals: the world champion intends to win this stage.
Soler and Sivakov as Plan B
When the smaller teams refused to stop launching attacks, UAE-XRG finally gave up. Plan B involved sending their own riders into the breakaway. Pavel Sivakov and Marc Soler (UAE-XRG) suddenly found themselves in a 34-man escape group. Among those trying their luck were Michael Woods (Israel-Premier Tech), Enric Mas (Movistar), Thymen Arensman (Ineos Grenadiers), Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain-Victorious), and Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost). Austrians Marco Haller (Tudor) and Gregor Mühlberger (Movistar), as well as Swiss rider Marc Hirschi (Tudor), had also slipped into the large breakaway.
Mas, Arensman & Alaphilippe as a trio in front
Even before the final climb began, the large breakaway group split in two. Among those alert were Thymen Arensman (Ineos Grenadiers), Enric Mas (Movistar), and Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor). The trio rode the first few kilometers of Mont Ventoux together before Spaniard Mas launched his attack 14 kilometers from the finish. In the group behind – which was about 1:30 minutes back – Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal – Quick-Step) made a move. Meanwhile, Visma – Lease a Bike led the peloton into the ascent of Mont Ventoux with a deficit of approximately six minutes.
Paret-Peintre wins on Mont Ventoux
After the groundwork laid by his teammates, Jonas Vingegaard (Visma – Lease a Bike) launched his attack. Only Tadej Pogacar (UAE – XRG) could stay with him, but couldn't break away. Meanwhile, at the front of the race, the action was fast and furious. Enric Mas (Movistar) looked like the certain winner, holding a lead of over a minute. However, thanks to the pace-setting of Ben Healy (EF Education – EasyPost), the chasing group closed the gap. But as the gap to the Vingegaard/Pogacar duo dwindled, the stage win was suddenly in jeopardy. Only when Ilan van Wilder (Soudal – Quick-Step) caught up in the final kilometer and increased the pace for his teammate was it clear that the victory would go to the breakaway. Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal – Quick-Step) used Healy's wheel to secure the first French stage win of this year's Tour de France!
?ﾟﾇﾷ La magnifique victoire française! Valentin Paret-Peintre triomphe au summer du Ventoux, où il domine Ben Healy au sprint! Pogacar, 5e de cette 16e étape, finish 2 seconds devant Vingegaard #LesRP #TDF2025 pic.twitter.com/xuA1VKjxcH
— Eurosport France (@Eurosport_FR) July 22, 2025