Valentin Paret-Peintre Wins Mont Ventoux Stage, Ben Healy Moves Ninth Tour de France

Ben Healy delivered an impressive performance on stage 16 of the 2025 Tour de France, finishing a close second on the iconic Mont Ventoux climb and earning the most combative rider award. Despite leading near the finish, he was narrowly beaten by French rider Valentin Paret-Peintre, who launched a late sprint to secure his first stage win of the Tour. Healy, who previously wore the yellow jersey and won stage six, demonstrated strong climbing and tactical skills but was ultimately unable to distance Paret-Peintre in the final meters. The stage featured a breakaway group where Healy played a key role in reeling in attacks, notably from Enric Mas, before contesting the final sprint. Meanwhile, overall leader Tadej Pogacar responded to multiple attacks by Jonas Vingegaard and extended his lead in the general classification. Healy's runner-up finish moves him up to ninth place overall, further solidifying his impressive showing in the race.