Paret-peintre Denies Healy In Thrilling Stage 16 Win

Valentin Paret-Peintre produced a precocious sprint to get past Ben Healy and declare a stunning triumph connected shape 16 of nan Tour de France.

After a thrilling conflict up nan Mont Ventoux, Healy looked group to declare his 2nd triumph of this year's Tour arsenic he led going information nan last bend.

But Paret-Peintre, 24, fought backmost connected nan acme decorativeness to contradict nan Irishman a celebrated triumph connected what is 1 of nan Tour's astir iconic climbs.

Jonas Vingegaard many times attacked Tadej Pogacar connected nan climb but vanished sixth fractionally aft nan Slovenian, meaning nan reigning champion accrued his wide lead - which is much than 4 minutes - by 2 seconds.

Healy's precocious effort was capable for nan 24-year-old EF Education-EasyPost rider, who claimed his first Tour triumph connected shape six and spent 2 days successful nan yellowish jersey, to leapfrog Carlos Rodriguez to ninth overall.

British rider Oscar Onley, 22, fell distant from nan yellowish jersey group connected nan climb and mislaid immoderate clip to Florian Lipowitz and Primoz Roglic, who are now either broadside of nan fourth-placed Scot successful nan wide classification standings.

It was a first Tour triumph for Paret-Peintre, who is nan first Frenchman to declare a shape connected this year's Tour and nan 3rd Soudal Quick-Step rider to win, aft Tim Merlier (two) and Remco Evenepoel.

Evenepoel was forced to wantonness nan title during shape 14 and location was different high-profile withdrawal earlier Tuesday's stage, pinch erstwhile yellowish jersey holder Mathieu van der Poel incapable to commencement aft being diagnosed pinch pneumonia.

After Monday's remainder day, nan title resumed pinch a 171.5km shape from Montpellier that was level until reaching nan ft of Mont Ventoux.

There was a six-man breakaway arsenic nan riders began climbing, pinch nan peloton much than six minutes adrift, and Enric Mas went clear of Julian Alaphilippe and Thymen Arensman.

Vingegaard's Visma-Lease a Bike team-mates took turns to push nan gait successful nan peloton and, pinch Pogacar getting isolated from his team-mates early successful nan climb, Vingegaard launched 3 attacks, but each clip nan three-time Tour victor stayed connected nan Dane's wheel.

Up nan road, Healy and Paret-Peintre managed to drawback Mas astir 3.5km from nan statement and nan trio exchanged rings successful a tactical stalemate, allowing Santiago Buitrago to subordinate them and group up a gripping last 2km.

After Mas faded, Ilan van Wilder abruptly charged into nan lead wrong nan last kilometre and signalled for team-mate Paret-Peintre to follow.

And though Healy kicked first successful nan last 250m, Paret-Peintre had capable near successful nan vessel to snatch victory.

Pogacar mounted 1 precocious onslaught and, though Vingegaard stuck to his wheel, nan Slovenian past managed to sprint to nan statement to summation 2 seconds connected nan two-time Tour winner.

Merlier could spell for a 3rd shape triumph connected Wednesday, arsenic nan title continues pinch a 160.4km level shape from Bollene to Valence.