Stage 16 of the 2025 Tour de France delivered a brutal showdown on Mont Ventoux, with Valentin Paret-Peintre claiming the biggest win of his young career. The French climber timed his effort perfectly in the closing kilometre, edging out Ben Healy in a two-up sprint to the summit, while the GC favourites Tadej Pogaฤar and Jonas Vingegaard fought their own battle just seconds behind.
How Stage 16 to Mont Ventoux unfolded
The 171.5km stage from Montpellier to the summit of Mont Ventoux began with full-throttle racing. Even before the climb, the average speed for the first hour was over 51km/h as the peloton tore through the Provence countryside. Early attackers included Marc Hirschi, Marco Haller and Xandro Meurisse, but the peloton wasnโt letting anything go easily.
Multiple attempts were chased down, with UAE and Visma active on the front, while riders like Julian Alaphilippe, Ben Healy, and Enric Mas eventually forced a large breakaway clear. Around 36 riders made it into the move, including several big names: Valentin Paret-Peintre, Healy, Mas, Thymen Arensman, Fred Wright, Santiago Buitrago, and Julian Alaphilippe.
This group pulled out over six minutes as the peloton, led by Nils Politt and Sepp Kuss, eventually settled into a steady pace ahead of the final showdown.
Photo Credit: A.S.O./Billy CeustersOnce the race hit the climb, it splintered immediately. On the lower wooded slopes, Alaphilippe, Arensman, and Mas looked sharp. After a flurry of accelerations, Mas made his move around 13km from the summit. He quickly dropped his fellow attackers and built a lead of 45 seconds. Behind, Healy, Paret-Peintre, Buitrago, and Arensman tried to respond.
Further back, the yellow jersey group exploded under pressure from Kuss, with riders like Felix Gall, Ben OโConnor, and Matteo Jorgenson being dropped. Jonas Vingegaard then launched the first of three accelerations, trying to dislodge Tadej Pogaฤar, who responded to each with composure. As the favourites surged through Chalet Reynard, their gap to the front was coming down rapidly.
Healy and Paret-Peintre combine to chase Mas
With 5km to go, Mas still had around 25 seconds, but the chase behind was increasingly organised. Healy and Paret-Peintre had joined forces and were gradually reeling the Spaniard in, bringing Buitrago with them. By 3km to go, they caught Mas, and the attacks began immediately.
Paret-Peintre went first, but Healy responded quickly. The two then slowed, allowing Mas and Buitrago to claw back on. Just outside the flamme rouge, Healy surged again, hoping to use his punch to go clear. But Paret-Peintre dug in, closing the gap with a steady tempo and then countering on the final bend.
Photo Credit: A.S.O./Billy CeustersHealy tried to come back, but it was too late – Paret-Peintre crossed the line just ahead, arms aloft, claiming a spectacular win at the summit of the Giant of Provence.
Behind, Vingegaard kept trying to distance Pogaฤar but couldn’t make anything stick. Their final acceleration saw them finish just 35 seconds behind the stage winner, confirming how hard they had raced the final kilometres. After the finish, Jonas Vingegaard suffered a tumble after contact from a photographer in the area behind the line.
Carlos Rodriguez launched an earlier attack from the GC group, trying to move up from ninth place overall, while Pogaฤar maintained his yellow jersey and once again showed no signs of weakness.
Paret-Peintre joins elite company on Ventoux
Valentin Paret-Peintre now becomes the latest name in a storied list of Mont Ventoux winners. This was the 12th summit finish in Tour de France history on the legendary climb. He joins names like Jean-Franรงois Bernard (1987), Marco Pantani (2000), Richard Virenque (2002), and Chris Froome (2013) as riders who have conquered the summit.
The last time the Tour climbed Mont Ventoux to the summit was in 2016 when Froomeโs incident with a moto saw scenes of absolute chaos. In 2021, Wout van Aert won on a double-ascent stage that finished in Malaucรจne. Today, it was all about the traditional summit finish – and a French winner for the home crowds.
2025 Tour de France Stage 16 result
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