Latest news with #stage16
SBS Australia
7 days ago
- Sport
- SBS Australia
Tour de France stage 16: Paret-Peintre becomes this year's first French winner
Valentin Paret-Peintre became the first French winner on this year's Tour de France as he edged an enthralling stage 16 on Tuesday, pipping Ireland's Ben Healy atop the mythical 1910m altitude Mont Ventoux summit finish. Behind them, Jonas Vingegaard attacked overall leader Tadej Pogacar relentlessly, but the defending champion tracked the Dane all the way up the 15km ascent to extend his lead by two seconds. Trailing by four minutes and 13 seconds at the start of this stage, Vingegaard attacked with 9km to climb on Mont Ventoux, whose eerie upper reaches resemble a lunar landscape. "I didn't want to push too hard and then let him have me on a counter-attack. I kept my rhythm as much as I could," said Pogacar, who has been fighting off a cold this week. "He attacked many times but I just tried to hold his wheel." Vingegaard was knocked off his bike by a motorbike after the finish line but was unhurt, remounting to go and congratulate Pogacar on another fine battle. "He seemed okay," Pogacar said later. Pogacar's Team UAE boss described Vingegaard as a "warrior". "He's got the guts and the legs, and we expect him to keep on attacking every day now. He's a warrior," Mauro Gianetti said. The battle for the overall lead, however, was eclipsed by a frantic fight for the stage win between EF's Healy and Soudal Quick-Step's Paret-Peintre, who became the first French winner on Mont Ventoux since Richard Virenque in 2002. "He looked so happy at the finish line," said Pogacar. Mont Ventoux has long been held in awe by riders and spectators alike, and it has witnessed some of the greatest dramas and tragedies of the Tour. In 1967, the British cyclist Tom Simpson died here after collapsing on a baking climb. The great Eddy Merckx once needed oxygen at the summit while Chris Froome ran part of the way up during a frantic wait for mechanical assistance on his way to a third Tour de France title in 2016. Perfect tactic Healy, who wore the yellow jersey for two days after winning the Bastille Day stage six, appeared to be heading for his second stage win as the two riders approached the finish of an epic tussle. Paret-Peintre looked completely drained but, cheered on by the home crowd, he found a final surge of strength to overtake the Irishman with 20 metres remaining and held on to the line. "I was near giving up, Healy was so strong but I said to myself, 'Come on, it's the Tour de France, Mont Ventoux,'" said Paret-Peintre. "I knew that if I held on, the last section suited me better than him as it's really steep. It turned out to be the perfect tactic." Healy's consolation was to be awarded the day's combativity prize while moving up one place to ninth in the overall standings. Almost unnoticed further down the mountain, German breakout star Florian Lipowitz consolidated his third place, extending his lead on fourth-placed Scottish rider Oscar Onley by around 30 seconds. With two more Alpine stages coming up and five more stages left, Vingegaard and his Visma team did everything they could to hurt the Team UAE leader Pogacar here, and can only hope they have tired the pugnacious champion. But the 26-year-old resisted all they threw at him, despite being isolated from his teammates early in the climb. Stage 17 should be one for the sprinters as Tim Merlier hopes to add to his two stage wins and current green jersey Jonathan Milan also targets a second win at the 700m straight run to the finish line at Valence. The weather however could rewrite the script with 50kph winds forecast along the 170km run. For the latest from SBS News, download our app and subscribe to our newsletter .
The Sun
22-07-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Tour de France star Tobias Johannessen collapses at finish line and rushed to hospital in ambulance
TOUR DE FRANCE rider Tobias Halland Johannessen COLLAPSED at the finish line of stage 16. The 25-year-old received oxygen from medics before being rushed to hospital in an ambulance on Tuesday afternoon. 2 2 Team-mate Andreas Leknessund later revealed that his UCI ProTeam Uno-X Mobility pal was struggling with stomach problems. But Halland Johannessen made sure to complete the stage before laying up at the finish area as riding doctors rushed to his rescue. TV 2 expert Mads Kaggestad at the scene said: "It shows how extremely he has pushed himself." Uno X sports director Stig Kristiansen spoke to TV 2 after the drama erupted. He said: " I don't know much. He talked to us in the last kilometers and said he was struggling to get air. "He was struggling a bit with stomach cramps. It's a mountain that takes its toll. "I haven't had a chance to talk to him and those in the finish area, but the doctor is on his way and he's getting help from the organisation right now." Talentin Paret-Peintre produced a late sprint to get past Ben Healy and claim a stunning win on stage 16. After a thrilling battle up the iconic Mont Ventoux climb, Healy looked set to claim his second win of this year's Tour as he emerged from the final bend in the lead. But Paret-Peintre, 24, fought back to deny the Irishman and become the first French winner this year. Jonas Vingegaard repeatedly attacked reigning champion Tadej Pogacar on the climb but the pair crossed together, meaning Pogacar maintains his overall lead. THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY..
