Paret-Peintre paints masterpiece on Ventoux as record setter Pogacar stays in control
MALAUCENE, France - Valentin Paret-Peintre kept his cool in a furnace of pressure and heat, delivering a thunderous victory atop the legendary Mont Ventoux to give France its first win in this year's Tour de France during a breathtaking Stage 16 on Tuesday.
The Soudal-Quick Step rider edged out Ireland's Ben Healy in a heart-pounding sprint finale on the Giant of Provence, while Tadej Pogacar remained unshakable in yellow, fending off Jonas Vingegaard on the brutal 21.5km ascent averaging 7.5%.
Defending champion Pogacar clawed two more seconds from his Danish rival in a final surge to extend his overall lead to 4:15 after setting the record for the climb, riding up in 54 minutes and 41 seconds -- one minute 10 seconds faster than the previous best mark set by Spain's Iban Mayo in 2004.
The Slovenian also beat the fastest time from the Saint-Esteve bend, where the toughest section starts by clocking 44:48. The previous record was held by the late Marco Pantani (46:00).
"I had a bad day in 2021 on the Ventoux, today was the opposite, I had good legs, I enjoyed myself," Pogacar, chasing a fourth Tour title, said.
"We will try to go for another stage win. He (Vingegaard) attacked a lot of times but I knew that I could follow the wheel."
Vingegaard suffered a brief crash after the line but said his performance gave him confidence that he was still in contention for a third title.
Top stories
Swipe. Select. Stay informed.
Singapore Two found dead after fire in Toa Payoh flat
Singapore Singaporeans aged 21 to 59 can claim $600 SG60 vouchers from July 22
Singapore Singaporeans continue to hold world's most powerful passport in latest ranking
Singapore Singapore, Vietnam agree to step up defence ties, dialogue between leaders
Asia Malaysia govt's reform pledge tested as DAP chief bows over unresolved 2009 death of political aide
Tech Singapore to increase pool of early adopters in AI to complement data scientists, engineers
Singapore Prosecution says judge who acquitted duo of bribing ex-LTA official had copied defence arguments
Singapore Ports and planes: The 2 Singapore firms helping to keep the world moving
"How I felt good today gives me motivation, I will keep trying," he said.
Germany's Florian Lipowitz held firm in third, 9:03 adrift of Pogacar, pulling further ahead of fourth-placed Briton Oscar Onley, who lags another 2:01 behind.
But the day belonged to Paret-Peintre. "I honestly didn't believe it," he said. "I thought Pogacar would go for victory today. But when we built a real gap, I told myself, you can't let a win on Mont Ventoux slip through your fingers."
Seven riders surged ahead from an early breakaway, carving out a healthy 6:30 buffer as they reached the base of the climb.
The air grew thinner, the crowds louder and the landscape more lunar.
SURVIVAL
Spanish climber Enric Mas led the charge, attacking solo 14.2 km from the summit. Behind him, Paret-Peintre, Healy and Colombia's Santiago Buitrago gave chase.
As they passed Chalet Reynard, pine forest yielded to desolate, white-stone slopes.
Mas and Buitrago fought valiantly but were dropped by the Franco-Irish duo, only to courageously claw their way back.
Then came Belgian Ilan Van Wilder, who fought his way back to the group and dug deep for teammate Paret-Peintre to keep the Pogacar-Vingegaard threat at bay.
Vingegaard had attacked a handful of times, the first attempt coming 9km from the top, but could not shake off Pogacar, whose acceleration was also not strong enough to drop the Visma-Lease a Bike leader.
With 400 metres to go and the gradient spiking to a lung-scorching 10%, Healy launched his sprint.
But Paret-Peintre, with ice in his veins and fire in his legs, clung to his wheel. In the final, agonising metres, he surged past, claiming not just a stage win, but also a place in French cycling folklore.
He was only the fifth Frenchman to conquer the Ventoux, the mountain that claimed the life of Tom Simpson, who died in hospital after collapsing in the finale of the ascent in 1967.
There was a big scare for Tobias Johannessen, who was taken to hospital after being given oxygen by a race doctor immediately after the finish.
"Tobias suffered some right-sided upper abdominal pain during the final climb today. He made it to the finish where he was seen immediately by the race doctors and given oxygen," the Norwegian's Uno-X team said.
"He is feeling much better but will go to the local hospital for further checks." REUTERS
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Shelton tops Tiafoe on sweltering night in Washington
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Jul 25, 2025; Washington, D.C., USA; Ben Shelton (USA) hits a forehand against Frances Tiafoe (USA)(not pictured) in a men's singles quarter-final of the Mubadala Citi DC Open at Rock Creek Park Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images Ben Shelton beat fellow American Frances Tiafoe 7-6(2) 6-4 in an electrifying match at the Washington Open on Friday to advance to the semifinals on a day marked by suffocating humidity in the nation's capital. Shelton blasted an ace on match point to seal the win and avenge his five-set loss to Tiafoe at last year's U.S. Open as the 22-year-old continues to make strides in his breakout season. Hometown hero Tiafoe had the support of the energized crowd but lost momentum when he was unable to serve out the first set while up 6-5, leading to a tiebreak that Shelton dominated. The second set hinged on a marathon game at 3-3, where Shelton pocketed a break thanks to a Taifoe double fault. Shelton rode his huge lefty serve from there to grab the win and set up a semi-final meeting with either top seed Taylor Fritz or Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. "It was a tough one for sure but enjoyable nonetheless," Shelton told Tennis Channel. "I love playing against Foe. Difficult guy to play against but playing him here in the U.S., especially being here in D.C., it was packed, it was a great atmosphere. I couldn't be happier." Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Almost half of planned 30,000 flats in Tengah to be completed by end-2025: Chee Hong Tat Asia Cambodia calls for ceasefire with Thailand after deadly clashes Asia Behind deadly Thai-Cambodian clashes, a bitter spat between two dynastic leaders Multimedia Lights dimmed at South-east Asia's scam hub but 'pig butchering' continues Singapore Black belt in taekwondo, grade 8 in piano: S'pore teen excels despite condition that limits movements Life SG60 F&B icons: Honouring 14 heritage brands that have never lost their charm Asia Where's Jho Low? Looking for 1MDB fugitive in Shanghai's luxury estate Business How parents can prevent disputes over their properties Earlier, tournament lucky loser Corentin Moutet stunned Russia's Daniil Medvedev 6-1 4-6 4-6 in a wild match interrupted by an hour-long delay due to the threat of thunderstorms. Moutet, leading 5-4 in the final set when they returned to the court, was hobbled by leg cramps but completed the upset in a final game that featured three double faults by Medvedev and a frantic match point. The Frenchman fell on his back in relief after securing the victory as Medvedev threw his racket and proceeded to take out his frustration on several water bottles, drawing boos from the crowd. "That is a great way to finish the match," said world number 59 Moutet. "I was with my coach when we were up 5-4 and I said okay, I have to win the next game because my body cannot handle too much more." Moutet will face Australian seventh seed Alex de Minaur, who was a 6-4 6-4 winner over Brandon Nakashima. On the women's side, Canadian Leylah Fernandez and Emma Raducanu both overcame the stifling heat and their opponents to advance to the semifinals, setting up a potential rematch of the 2021 U.S. Open final that was won by the Englishwoman. For that to happen Raducanu, who beat Maria Sakkari in straight sets on Friday, will have to best Russian Anna Kalinskaya. Fernandez takes on third seed Elena Rybakina in the semis of the ATP and WTA 500 event on Saturday. REUTERS

Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Where's Jho Low? Looking for 1MDB fugitive in Shanghai's luxury estate
On July 19, investigative duo in a live stream titled Finding Jho Low, claimed that Low lives in Green Hills, an upscale residential compound in Shanghai. SHANGHAI — Across the Huangpu River in Pudong, behind high fences and dense greenery, lies a sprawling enclave with over 400 Tudor-style bungalows, manicured gardens and tree-lined roads dotted with Teslas, Jaguars and other luxury cars. This exclusive gated compound, which more closely resembles the quaint English countryside than a Chinese megacity, is where Malaysian financial fugitive Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low, is allegedly living, according to the journalists who first exposed the 1MDB scandal. On July 19, investigative duo Bradley Hope and Tom Wright, in a live stream titled Finding Jho Low, claimed that Low lives in Green Hills, an upscale residential compound in Shanghai. They also alleged that Low is using a forged Australian passport under the Greek alias 'Constantinos Achilles Veis' to travel freely within China, citing evidence from unnamed sources and newly obtained documents. Mr Hope and Mr Wright are former journalists at The Wall Street Journal who played key roles in uncovering the multi-billion-dollar fraud that resulted in the imprisonment of former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak for corruption and money laundering. Low's whereabouts have remained a mystery since he disappeared in 2016, fuelling years of speculation. When The Straits Times visited the Green Hills compound over two days, residents spoke of a quiet residential estate where neighbours rarely cross paths or interact due to the sprawling grounds. Three residents told ST that they have heard of celebrities and 'famous businessmen' who live in the estate but all said they did not know who and did not care to find out. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Almost half of planned 30,000 flats in Tengah to be completed by end-2025: Chee Hong Tat Asia Cambodia calls for ceasefire with Thailand after deadly clashes Asia Behind deadly Thai-Cambodian clashes, a bitter spat between two dynastic leaders Multimedia Lights dimmed at South-east Asia's scam hub but 'pig butchering' continues Singapore Black belt in taekwondo, grade 8 in piano: S'pore teen excels despite condition that limits movements Life SG60 F&B icons: Honouring 14 heritage brands that have never lost their charm Business How parents can prevent disputes over their properties Business Banking and finance jobs will change but won't disappear as AI becomes the new normal: Accenture A resident, whose house is located right by the estate's side gate, told ST that he barely recognises anyone who lives in the compound, including his next-door neighbour, as their houses are separated by large gardens. 'The only time I ever went through the whole estate was when I first moved here five years ago to check out the surroundings; now I just enter the gate and go straight into my home,' he said. This reporter was unable to enter the estate as security guards at all three entrances required visitors to provide the house number they were visiting as well as the surname of the family living there. Built in 2004, the 410,000 sqm Green Hills compound is a residential enclave favoured by wealthy locals and expats, largely because there are two international schools – Dulwich and Concordia – in the vicinity. It is surrounded by other similarly luxurious landed home compounds and sits by a river where people occasionally kayak. Property agents who are actively marketing the homes for rent told ST that a key feature is the double-height ceiling living room, which allows for large gatherings. Marketing videos on Chinese social media platforms show that many of these three-storey homes are opulently appointed and typically have between four and eight bedrooms. Built in 2004, the 410,000 sqm Green Hills compound is a residential enclave favoured by wealthy locals and expats. ST PHOTO: MICHELLE NG Monthly rental for a standalone bungalow – the largest house type with up to 500 sqm of internal floor area – is between 70,000 yuan (S$12,500) and 100,000 yuan, agents said. The selling price for one of these is between 70 million yuan and 150 million yuan. Rental for a semi-detached house is around 40,000 yuan while that for a terrace house, referred to as a townhouse in China, is around 30,000 yuan. Outside Green Hills, a resident who was getting on a shared bicycle told ST that the bulk of the people who live there are families whose children attend the international schools, or are older Chinese who do not need to fret over money, like her parents. 'Basically every household here has at least two cars, one everyday car like a BMW or Mercedes-Benz, and the other is more fancy… maybe a sports car,' she said, adding that she is 'not one of them' as she is living under her parents' roof. When asked if she had heard of Low's alleged residence in the compound, she said no. 'All kinds of people live around here, I don't really care who they are as long as my life is not disrupted.' Rumours that Low is living in China have swirled since at least 2019, when a photo purportedly showing him at Shanghai Disneyland on Christmas Eve emerged online. China has consistently denied sheltering him or having knowledge of his location. ST has contacted the Shanghai authorities for comments. Low, who has repeatedly claimed his innocence, has been wanted by multiple jurisdictions, including Malaysia, Singapore and the United States, since 2016 for his alleged role in siphoning an estimated US$4.5 billion (S$5.77 billion) from 1MDB, Malaysia's sovereign fund. Low is accused of pocketing US$1.42 billion from three bond transactions that Goldman Sachs arranged for 1MDB. On July 24, Malaysian Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said that the report about Low's location and the passport he allegedly is using is 'not supported by credible proof'. In response to the report, Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade issued a statement warning that passport fraud is a serious offence under Australian law. In 2023, Malaysia's anti-graft regulator told Qatari news network Al Jazeera in a written response that it suspected Low to be hiding in the Chinese special administrative region of Macau. Entrances to Green Hills, a sprawling gated residential enclave with over 400 Tudor-styled bungalows, manicured gardens and tree-lined roads in Shanghai. ST PHOTO: MICHELLE NG The scandal, described by the United States Justice Department as the largest case of kleptocracy it had ever investigated, first came to public attention in 2015 when reports emerged that nearly US$700 million was suspected to have been transferred from 1MDB into then-Prime Minister Najib Razak's personal bank account. US prosecutors claim that more than US$4.5 billion was ultimately embezzled from the fund by high-level officials of the fund and their associates, with the money laundered through a global network of shell companies and bank accounts. The stolen funds were allegedly used to finance Low's extravagant lifestyle spanning jewellery, fine art, luxury real estate, a superyacht, lavish parties and even the production of the Hollywood film The Wolf of Wall Street.

Straits Times
3 hours ago
- Straits Times
Messi and Alba suspended for one match for missing MLS All-Star
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Jul 19, 2025; Harrison, New Jersey, USA; Inter Miami CF forward Lionel Messi (10) in action against the New York Red Bulls during the second half at Sports Illustrated Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images NEW YORK - Lionel Messi has been suspended for one game after sitting out the MLS All-Star Game without prior approval, the league said on Friday. The Inter Miami forward and his teammate, Jordi Alba, did not compete on Wednesday despite not being injured, even though they were included in the All-Star roster. "Per league rules, any player who does not participate in the All-Star Game without prior approval from the league is ineligible to compete in their club's next match," MLS said in a statement. The suspension will see Messi, the league's main attraction, miss Inter Miami's match against the visiting FC Cincinnati on Saturday. Cincinnati lead the Eastern Conference standings. Messi has scored 18 goals so far this season. "I know Lionel Messi loves this league. I don't think there's a player - or anyone - who has done more for Major League Soccer than Messi. I fully understand, respect, and admire his commitment to Inter Miami, and I respect his decision," MLS Commissioner Don Garber said in a statement. "Unfortunately, we have a long-standing policy regarding participation in the All-Star Game, and we had to enforce it. It was a very difficult decision." Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia Cambodia calls for ceasefire with Thailand after deadly clashes Asia 'Nothing like this has happened before': At least 16 dead as Thai-Cambodian conflict continues Multimedia Lights dimmed at South-east Asia's scam hub but 'pig butchering' continues Business Banking and finance jobs will change but won't disappear as AI becomes the new normal: Accenture Sport Mikkel Lee gets back up to speed as Singapore swimmers eye 2028 Olympics spots Business How parents can prevent disputes over their properties Asia Hottest 'ticket' in Jakarta? Young Indonesians compete for a slot at this novel club Singapore Kopi, care and conversation: How this 20-year-old helps improve the well-being of the elderly All-Star competitions are a mainstay of North American sports, where the men's "Big Four" leagues use the exhibitions to boost their players' profiles, but a rarity in professional soccer. "We're going to take a hard look at the policy moving forward. I'm committed to working with our players to determine how the rule should evolve," said Garber. Inter Miami managing owner Jorge Mas described both players as "consummate professionals" who were "extremely upset" about the suspensions. He explained that the club made the decision for the players to miss the All-Star game to prioritize their rest and health during a demanding stretch of matches. Mas strongly criticized the rule, calling it "draconian." "The ones that get penalized are the club, the fans, sponsors, Apple TV, and so on," Mas told reporters during a conference call on Friday. "I expressed our disagreement with the league's decision, and I had conversations with the commissioner both this morning and late last night," he said. "But notwithstanding that, the decision is what it is." Mas added that there was no appeals process available. REUTERS