French cyclist Valentin Paret-Peintre triumphs on Mont Ventoux, securing a win for France during stage 16 of the Tour de France
In a thrilling display of endurance and sprinting prowess, Valentin Paret-Peintre of the Soudal Quick-Step team emerged victorious in Stage 16 of the 2022 Tour de France. The 21.5km ascent of Mont Ventoux, dubbed the "Beast of Provence", proved to be a challenging but rewarding climb for Paret-Peintre, who outpaced Ireland's Ben Healy in a nail-biting sprint to the summit.
The stage, which started from Montpellier and covered 171.5 kilometers, saw Paret-Peintre end a long drought for French riders at this Tour and earn his first Tour de France stage win. His victory also marked his third professional victory overall, with a majority of his wins coming on uphill finishes.
Meanwhile, overall leader Tadej Pogačar held firm against his main rival Jonas Vingegaard, maintaining and extending his yellow jersey lead by over four minutes. Pogačar's impressive performance saw him set a new record for the Mont Ventoux climb during this stage, highlighting the fierce competition on the mountain.
The stage was a summit finish, with a hockey-stick profile, flat until the foot of the mountain, then pointing straight up. Attacks began to fly within a kilometre of the climb's start, with Paret-Peintre and Enric Mas launching their moves. A leading quartet formed at the front of the race, consisting of Healy, Paret-Peintre, Mas, and Santiago Buitrago. Pogačar and Vingegaard almost made it to the leading quartet, with a gap of around 40 seconds.
A group of more than 30 riders, including Ben Healy, broke away from the peloton midway through the stage. The leading group at the base of Mont Ventoux consisted of Fred Wright, Thymen Arensman, Julian Alaphilippe, Matteo Trentin, and Jonas Abrahamsen, among others. Visma-Lease a Bike took to the front of the peloton with Sepp Kuss.
In the finale, Ben Healy was the first to launch for the finish line, followed by Paret-Peintre. Paret-Peintre managed to stay strong under intense pressure and heat, delivering a powerful finish to become the first French stage winner of that year's Tour. Santiago Buitrago finished third, with Pogačar and Vingegaard finishing second and third, respectively, on the stage.
Valentin Paret-Peintre's win on Mont Ventoux came from his strong climbing legs and tactical sprinting in the finale, enabled by his ability to endure extreme heat and pressure on one of cycling's toughest climbs. The win was a testament to his determination and skill, and it has certainly left an indelible mark on the 2022 Tour de France.
[1] Tour de France official website [2] Cycling News [3] Velonews [4] The Guardian [5] BBC Sport
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