Of all the scenes of triumph and despair on Mont Ventoux over the years, none have been closer than this, Ben Healy little more than a bike-length short of an everlasting place in Tour de France history.
On a day of searing heat in the Rhône Valley, Healy once again defied most Tour expectations in the last frantic battle for the Stage 16 victory, denied by French rider Valentin Paret-Peintre just metres from the line. Both riders were given the same time.
For Paret-Peintre of Soudal Quick-Step, he became the first French stage winner of this year’s Tour and took all the glory. Such is the prize for whoever conquers the Giant of Provence. For Healy, however, it was another truly breathtaking ride, the 24-year-old leading much of the chase up the final 15.7km ascent from Bédoin.
[ Ben Healy hails ‘fairytale’ after riding into Tour de France yellow jerseyOpens in new window ]
Iconic summit finishes in cycling don’t come much bigger than Mont Ventoux. With the possible exception of Alpe d’Huez, it’s the most famous mountain in the Tour, and although first visited in 1951, there have only been 11 summit finishes here since.
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The 172km from Montpellier came down to a close battle between four riders inside the last 1km. Healy was the first to move within sight of the finish, only for Paret-Peintre to find one last reserve of strength to edge past him at the observatory, at just under 2,000m above sea level.
After catching the last breakaway rider Eric Mas of Movistar with 3.8km to go, Healy kept pressing from the front, with Paret-Peintre right on his wheel. The duo were then rejoined by Santiago Buitrago of Bahrain-Victorious and Ilan Van Wilder, also of Soudal Quick-Step, with 1.6km to go, leaving four riders in contention for the famous win.
“We started off Mont Ventoux pretty strongly, keeping a pretty good tempo,” said Healy, again well supported by his team EF Education–EasyPost. “It was hard to find some coordination in the group, and I told the guys, ‘let’s catch Mas first, and then we can play.’
“We then tried to attack, but it was hard to distance each other in the headwind. In hindsight, I should have pushed a bit more in the steep part at the bottom before we came to the open section.
“I knew it was a right-hand turn into the line, so I tried to get the jump on Valentin [Paret-Peintre] before that. I managed to do that, but those last 100m are so hard . . . He had a better kick and beat me to the line.”
With 1km to go, Paret-Peintre attacked, but again Healy refused to concede. Paret-Peintre’s team mate, Van Wilder, also provided some support inside that last 1km, just not enough to shake off Healy.
“Once on the final climb, I realised I wasn’t strong enough to drop Ben Healy – nor was he strong enough to drop me,” said Paret-Peintre. “He attacked but I said to myself, ‘It’s a victory at Ventoux, you can’t give up.’ Even in the last 100 metres to overtake him, I really struggled, but I had to do it. Incredible, I can hardly believe it.”
Just down the road, Tadej Pogačar and his Danish rival Jonas Vingegaard were leading the chase. Pogačar made his move inside the last 2km, the defending Tour champion finishing fifth, 43 seconds down on Paret-Peintre, and two seconds ahead of Vingegaard.
Healy had started Stage 16 in 10th overall, 18:41 down on Pogačar, and moves up to ninth, 17:52 down. For the Irish rider, who last week wore the leader’s yellow jersey for two days, there was also another prize for the most combative rider of the day.
Wednesday’s Stage 17 will likely be one for the sprinters, before two big days in the Alps with Healy unquestionably capable of chasing another stage win.
