Paret-Peintre Outpaces Healy to Win Thrilling Stage 16 on Mont Ventoux

French rider Valentin Paret-Peintre claimed his maiden Tour de France stage victory with a dramatic late burst on Mont Ventoux, overtaking Ireland’s Ben Healy in the closing metres of Stage 16.

The 24-year-old Soudal Quick-Step cyclist surged past Healy in the final sprint after a gripping four-rider showdown on the legendary climb. Healy, who had been leading out of the final corner, appeared poised for his second stage win of this year’s Tour, but was edged out in the last stretch.

The day also saw a fierce duel between general classification rivals Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar. Despite repeated attacks from the Dane, Pogacar managed to stay on his wheel throughout the ascent. The Slovenian then launched a last-ditch sprint at the summit to gain two crucial seconds, extending his overall lead to 4 minutes and 15 seconds.

Healy’s second-place finish helped him climb into the top 10 overall, moving into ninth ahead of Spain’s Carlos Rodriguez. The EF Education-EasyPost rider had previously worn the yellow jersey for two days following his Stage 6 victory.

Meanwhile, Britain’s Oscar Onley lost ground in the GC after struggling to keep pace with the yellow jersey group on the climb. The 22-year-old slipped to fifth as Florian Lipowitz and Primoz Roglic gained time on the Scot.

The stage, which resumed after Monday’s rest day, stretched 171.5km from Montpellier to the summit of Mont Ventoux. After a mostly flat run, the action came alive on the climb where a six-man breakaway broke clear. Enric Mas led the charge briefly before being reeled in by Healy and Paret-Peintre around 3.5km from the finish.

A tense tactical standoff followed, allowing Santiago Buitrago to join the front trio. Ilan van Wilder later surged ahead inside the final kilometre and signalled Paret-Peintre to follow, teeing up the decisive sprint. Though Healy made the first move in the last 250 metres, it was the Frenchman who had the stronger finish.

Paret-Peintre’s win marks the first French stage victory of this year’s race and the third for Soudal Quick-Step, following earlier successes by Tim Merlier and Remco Evenepoel. Evenepoel withdrew during Stage 14, and Tuesday brought another major exit, with former yellow jersey holder Mathieu van der Poel sidelined due to pneumonia.

Stage 17 on Wednesday presents another opportunity for sprinters, with a 160.4km flat route from Bollène to Valence. Merlier could be in contention for his third win of the Tour.

Stage 16 Top 10 Results

1. Valentin Paret-Peintre (FRA/Soudal Quick-Step) – 4:03:19

2. Ben Healy (IRE/EF Education-EasyPost) – same time

3. Santiago Buitrago (COL/Bahrain Victorious) – +4s

4. Ilan van Wilder (BEL/Soudal Quick-Step) – +14s

5. Tadej Pogacar (SLO/UAE Team Emirates-XRG) – +43s

6. Jonas Vingegaard (DEN/Visma-Lease a Bike) – +45s

7. Enric Mas (ESP/Movistar) – +53s

8. Julian Alaphilippe (FRA/Tudor) – +1:17

9. Primoz Roglic (SLO/Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) – +1:51

10. Florian Lipowitz (GER/Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) – +1:53

General Classification After Stage 16

1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO/UAE Emirates-XRG) – 58:24:46

2. Jonas Vingegaard (DEN/Visma-Lease a Bike) – +4:15

3. Florian Lipowitz (GER/Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) – +9:03

4. Oscar Onley (GBR/Picnic PostNL) – +11:04

5. Primoz Roglic (SLO/Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) – +11:42

6. Kevin Vauquelin (FRA/Arkea-B&B Hotels) – +13:20

7. Felix Gall (AUT/Decathlon–AG2R La Mondiale) – +14:50

8. Tobias Johannessen (NOR/Uno-X Mobility) – +17:01

9. Ben Healy (IRE/EF Education-EasyPost) – +17:52

10. Carlos Rodriguez (ESP/Ineos Grenadiers) – +20:45