Fourth on the stage and fourth in the overall standings for Soudal Quick-Step’s climber.
Valentin Paret-Peintre continued his strong ride at the World Tour event, and for the second day in a row, was part of the select group from where the stage winner emerged on the last summit finish of the race.
A 158.2km route taking in four classified ascents and an elevation gain of 3500 meters was what the riders had to face on Saturday, when the climbers got another big opportunity. It was on the Coll de Pradell, the hardest difficulty of the day, that the peloton caught most of the riders who were part of the breakaway, including Andrea Raccagni. Already reduced to 30-odd riders, the GC group disintegrated on Collada de Sant Isidre, where Valentin Paret-Peintre was among the best, climbing with ease and securing a place in the small six-man group that formed just before the top.
In the valley, they continued to extend their margin over the chasers and remained together until 2.5 kilometers to go, at which point race leader Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) attacked and soloed to victory. Fifth on Coll de Pal, Soudal Quick-Step’s 25-year-old pushed a steady rhythm and finished just outside the podium, only a couple of seconds from the top three. This result helped him surge to fourth overall ahead of the final day, which will take the peloton several times over the Montjuic climb in Barcelona.
It was again a hard stage and I left everything out there.
“The group split first on the climb, and then on the downhill, where we went full gas. Once we arrived on the slopes of Queralt, I tried to give everything but without going into the red. I’m content with gaining a place on the standings and I will try to defend this position, but also see what is possible to do on Sunday”, said Valentin, who is now on the verge of taking his best ever GC result in a World Tour race.
Photo credit: ©Szymon Gruchalski / Getty Images
