Paret-Peintre conquers the Ventoux and Pogacar, more leader

Mont Ventoux (France) (EFE).- Frenchman Valentin Paret-Peintre won at the summit of Mont Ventoux in his first participation in the Tour de France, ahead of Irishman Ben Healy and Colombian Santiago Buitrago, while Slovenian Tadej Pogacar increased his lead at the head of the general classification. It is the first French victory in this edition of the Tour and the second for the Soudal rider in a grand tour after the one achieved in the Giro d’Italia of 2024. The Frenchman was the best of a large breakaway that arrived very distanced at Mont Ventoux, which was done almost alone by the Spaniard Enric Mas, before being caught four kilometers from the finish line and finishing seventh, 53 seconds behind the winner. Paret-Peintre won the sprint against Healey, while Buitrago came in four seconds later. Among the favorites, Dane Jonas Vingegaard made up to three attacks on the slopes of the Ventoux, but could not distance the Slovenian Tadej Pogacar, who in a final acceleration advanced two seconds on his main rival in the general classification, whom he now surpasses by 4.15. German Florian Lipowitz lost 1.10 with respect to the leader but remains third at 9.05 and saw that position reinforced, because the Briton Oscar Onley, who is the one who threatens him the most, dropped 36 seconds more and is 2.01 from the podium. Spaniard Carlos Rodríguez, who was fifteenth at 3.02 behind the winner, lost a position in the general classification in favor of Healy and is now tenth at 20.45 behind the leader.