It was not until the 16th stage to finally have the first French victory for this Tour de France 2025! In a mano of anthology with Ben Healy (EF Education Easypost) at the top of Mont Ventoux, Valentin Paretrere (Sudal Quick-Step) wins his first bouquet on French roads, a year after his success on the Italian Tour. Even after spending the line, the Frenchman had trouble achieving the magnitude of his performance, especially since he was not frankly convinced of the merits of the operation at the start.
“I told my teammates that I had my chances of winning”
It is a feat that will undoubtedly change his career even if he did not believe in it at the start … and still not believe in arrival: “It is sure, it is extraordinary but it was not the plan because I really thought that Pogacar wanted to win the stage and that he was going to try to caden the race. I did not believe it too much, I told myself that if there was a big group, why not be in it, you never know. I understand that it is possible when there is a big group with two guys of UAE, I told myself that they were going to try to play with To play the victory.
The Frenchman therefore detailed the suspense final of this 16th stage, which he finally emerged victorious: “And three kilometers, I said to myself”Ok, I know this last crawl here, After the last turn which is really very very stiff, And I know I can win on this slope “ And I waited for the arrival. I saw Ilan come back to a kilometer, he rolled up to the sprint, And that's it, it's really a team victory, We have gone through things not easy in recent days with the abandonment of Remco, Here, now, we can raise our heads. ” Even under pressure from the return of Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates XRG) and out Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma | Lease A Bike), the Savoyard remained calm: “Yeah, I had info on Pogacar and Vingegaard but it was hard to really understand with noise and spectators but it is a unique opportunity to win a stage on the Tour de France, so you have to play, and too bad if you lose. “
