An audacious attack by the Frenchman netted him a runner-up spot on one of the race’s hardest stages.
Valentin Paret-Peintre captured his first top-three of the season in Colombier-le-Vieux, where a Paris-Nice stage finished for the first time in history. The 25-year-old explosive climber was the best of the rest Thursday afternoon, taking second behind race leader Jonas Vingegaard for Soudal Quick-Step’s 12th podium since the beginning of the season.
Multiple hills were spread across over the 206 kilometers of the stage five, making for an elevation gain of almost 3000 meters, and the action was ignited more than 30 kilometers from home, when Soudal Quick-Step hit the front of the peloton on the early slopes of Côte de Sécheras. Moments later, Valentin put in a probing attack, but the peloton remained as one until the next climb on the course, also the most difficult of the day.
The yellow jersey wearer took off there, while a fascinating fight for the second spot on the stage podium unfolded behind. took off there, while a fascinating fight for the second spot on the podium unfolded behind. Valentin accelerated twice, hoping to create a gap, but the others responded to his efforts. However, the third time he went, just before cresting the ascent, nobody could follow, and the Mont Ventoux winner sped down the descent, extending his lead over the chasers with every meter.
On the last hill of the day, Paret-Peintre had to dig deep, but managed to hold onto that advantage, delivering Soudal Quick-Step’s second podium of the week, after the one of Jasper Stuyven in Montargis.
I believe it was a good day for us and we can be content with our work and the result we got.
“On paper, this should have been a good opportunity for the breakaway, but the overall leader’s team controlled things and made it really difficult to go up the road. But we believed in our chances and the team put in a great performance, bringing me to the front at the right moment. Second is the best possible result today and I’m glad I could bounce back after Wednesday’s stage. It was hard and fast today, but I did my best and it gives me a lot of confidence to be on the podium behind one of the best climbers in the world. Our race isn’t over yet and we firmly believe we can get some more good results”, Valentin explained after scoring France’s best result so far at this edition of Paris-Nice.
Photo credit: ©Szymon Gruchalsky / Getty Images
