Paret-Peintre Wins Ventoux Stage, Pogacar Extends Lead

Valentin Paret-Peintre became the first French stage winner of the 2025 Tour de France by outsprinting Ireland's Ben Healy atop Mont Ventoux at the end of a 171.5-kilometer stage from Montpellier. Paret-Peintre's victory was aided by his teammate Ilan Van Wilder, breaking a French stage win drought but not ending the nation's long wait for an overall Tour champion. Tadej Pogacar defended multiple attacks from defending champion Jonas Vingegaard and extended his overall lead to 4 minutes and 15 seconds, while Florian Lipowitz remains third overall. The stage was marked by challenging racing conditions, aggressive breakaways, and several incidents. Notably, Vingegaard was involved in a crash with a photographer after the finish, and Mathieu van der Poel withdrew from the race due to illness. With only a few stages left, Pogacar appears on track to retain his Tour de France title.