Bonjour and welcome to our live coverage of stage 16 of the 2025 Tour de France! It's Mont Ventoux day!
Stage 16 comes after the rest day and ends with the iconic climb in Provence. The riders face 171.5km in the saddle, with a flat, hot ride across southern France and then the feared 15.7km climb to the very summit of the bald, exposed and windswept mountain finish.
This is the profile of stage 16 of the Tour de France
As Alasdair Fotheringham wrote in his excellent stage preview, "the bleakly beautiful moonscapes of Mont Ventoux will be the backdrop and terrain of one of the decisive final stages of the 2025 Tour d France."
Tuesday began with news that Mathieu van der Poel has been forced out of the Tour after being diagnosed with pneumonia following hospital examinations.
We're just 30 minutes to the start of the stage and riders ware signing on in Montpellier.
Jonas Vingegaard signed on with a smile but spoke with a quiet voice.
Lenny Martinez also signs on with his Bahrain Victorious teammates. He is wearing the polka-dot mountains jersey and perhaps the best hope for a French stage win in this year's Tour.
Montpellier is a stage town for the 33rd time and has hosted 30 Tour de France finishes, most of them won by sprinters.
Recent victories have gone to Robbie McEwen in 2005, Robbie Hunter, who became the first African stage winner there in 2007, Mark Cavendish in 2011 and André Greipel in 2013.
During the race’s last visit in 2016, green jersey Peter Sagan broke away from the peloton with 12km to go and was followed by race leader Chris Froome, who subsequently consolidated his hold on first place in the overall classification.
You can follow all the action in our Tour de France live coverage throughout the day, but for a live video broadcast, there are also plenty of options.
Alasdair Fotheringham and Matilda Price are on the road to Mont Ventoux as we speak and will provide the best on the ground news and analysis from thew stage.
Next up and last up on the sign-on stage is Tadej Pogačar, with UAE Team Emirates-XRG teammates.
We've been carefully studying the weather for the stage.
It's between 25 and 28 °C in Montpellier and sunny, with little wind.
The wind is expected to increase as the riders near and then cross the Rhône valley.
Temperatures at the 1910 m altitude finish should be between 18 and 23 °C.
1 minute to the depart!
As usual, all the jersey wearers line-up on the front of the start grid. There is time for a final smile and selfie but now it's race time.
C'est parti!
Cruelly, the rides face a neutralised ride of 13.2km to the official start outside of the city.
For now, the riders are tucked in the slipstream of the red race director's car.
The 2025 edition of the Tour de France will mark the 19th time that the peloton will race up Mont Ventoux, the so-called 'Giant of Provence' because it dominates the landscape of he area.
The riders ready to attack early are packed tight close to the back of the red car. Watch for them to jump away as soon as the flag drops in 3km.
A series of roundabouts keeps splitting the peloton, only raising the tension.
Allez! Here we go. Christian Prudhomme waves the flag and stage 16 to Mont Ventoux is underway.
2021 stage winner Wout Van Aert is one of the first riders to go on the attack.
Interestingly the sprinters and even Jonathan Milan are in the early attacks.
Milan is trying to get into the break because the intermediate sprint is after 112km of mostly flat racing.
Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious) is among the many riders trying to break away in these first kilometres.
The peloton is a huge swarm of attacking riders as the moves are launched and quickly chased.
We have a first breakaway, as three riders go clear. The peloton seems to be hesitating.
Marc Hirschi and Marco Haller (Tudor) are away, with Xandro Meurisse (Alpecin-Deceuninck) but other riders are chasing them.
The chasers are chasing down each other in classic early racing tactics.
Interestingly Visma are also chasing the moves at the head of the peloton.
The speed is super high, with the attackers rolling at close to 60km/h as they try to establish a gap.
The riders are blasting through the stunning Provence countryside, with fields of vines, small villages and twisting road.
Multiple teams are trying to get across to the trio and so the gap is falling. It is just 10 seconds now.
Wout Van Aert calls his team car as Valentin Madouas also needs service and a new rear wheel from his Groupama car.
It's fascinating to see how Tudor riders are trying to block the chase by sitting on the wheels and following the wheels.
As soon as we note down the counter-attackers, they're caught by the peloton.
It's interesting to see Primoz Roglic is at the back of the peloton.
Movistar, Israel and Astana are all very active as they try to get riders in the break.
It's been a fast and hot start to the stage, so riders are already dropping back to team car to take on bidons.
We can see Tadej Pogačar in the middle of the peloton. He is happy to follow the wheels for now.
For a moment the peloton eased and UAE seemed to control things but then TotalEnergies kicked-off the attacks once more.
The peloton has slowed again, as Alexandre Delettre (Total Energies) tries to go across to the trio.
51.9km/h.
We spoke too soon. Other riders are now trying to jump across to the attackers.
There are 30 or so riders in a chase group. This could be the move.
UAE are on the front, with Tadej Pogačar also shoeing his yellow jersey and presence to persuade riders to ease up and stop the attacks.
115km to go
Tadej Pogačar's presence seems to have worked, the peloton has eased and the gap to the trio is up to 1:20. He also stopped for a natural break and that also slowed the attackers, as they respected the unwritten rule of never to attack when the race leader has stopped.
Almost everyone in the peloton seems happy for the drop in speed. The GC riders and climbers can relax, fuel and prepare for Mont Ventoux.
Mauro Schmid and Luke Plapp of Jayco try to go across the gap but UAE closing them down to control the racing.
Here are Marc Hirschi and Marco Haller (Tudor) and Xandro Meurisse (Alpecin-Deceuninck) on the attack.
They raced fast and hard from the start.
The riders pass through the first feed zone, with their staff holding out bidons and musettes.
We wanted to share this great shot from the start in Montpellier. This is the Tour de France and we expected huge crowds on Mont Ventoux.
We also like this shot of Tadej Pogačar, he has left his rivals seeing double so far in this Tour.
Back to the racing and despite Politt's pressure, the peloton is closing the gap on the trio.
And now Van Aert is on the front. We are surely going to see a change in the race very soon.
Marc Hirschi and Marco Haller (Tudor) and Xandro Meurisse (Alpecin-Deceuninck) are still up front but they have been joined by a quality group of riders.
The counter-attacks are still flowing and still chasing the race. There will be some tired legs when the riders get even to the bottom of Mont Ventoux.
Ben Healy, Enric Mas, Michael Woods, Ilan Van Wilder, Ewen Costiou, Pavel Sivakov and Marc Soler are in the attack but their leas is only 25 seconds.
Ben Healy of EF has sneaked into the attack and that has made other riders and teams unhappy.
There are 34 riders in the attack, including Mas, Arensman and Healy.
The peloton has eased once again, with Politt riding tempo on the front. Visma are lined out behind him, with Vingegaard visible in the line.
Jonas Rickaert and Emiel Verstrynge (Alpecin-Deceuninck) are trying to cross to the big attack but are at 30 seconds.
The average speed for the stag so far is a painful 49.8 km/h.
The intermediate sprint is coming up in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the area famous for Rhône red wines.
Julian Alaphilippe was not happy with many riders in the attack not working nd so has sparked an attack with his Tudor teammate Matteo Trentin.
Jonas Abrahamsen wins the intermediate sprint, with only Velasco trying to beat him.
Eenkhoorn has dropped back and so Wright, Arensman, Alaphilippe, Trentin, Mas, Velasco and Abrahamsen are up the road, with a 30-second gap on the chasers from the attack, that includes Ben Healy.
The peloton is at 5:00. It could be a sign that Tadej Pogačar is ready to let the break fight for the stage victory.
Jonas Rickaert and Emiel Verstrynge (Alpecin-Deceuninck) have joined the attackers, only to discover there are seven riders up the road. That's the hard life of the Tour de France breakaways.
40km to go
The Pogačar peloton is at 6:00 now. Can he really close the that gap to Alaphilippe and Mas on Mont Ventoux?
Fred Wright (Bahrain Victorious) flatted and so dropped back from the seven-rider attack to help his teammate and great climber Santiago Buitrago.
However the Healy, Buitrago group is losing ground and is 1:40 down.
Matilda Price is at the summit of Mont Ventoux for Cyclingnews to capture all the rider reaction and atmosphere of the stage.
This is the final corner that leads to the finish line at the very summit of Mont Ventoux.
Jackie Tyson is a Cyclingnews North American Production editor and describes Mont Ventoux as the 'Beauty and beast' after riding to the summit a few years ago.
As the lower slopes of Ventoux start to bite, Trentin is dropped. Soon after LouLou Alahpillippe accelerates.
He is soon caught but the race for the stage victory is on.
And then there were four: only Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor), Simone Velasco (Astana-XDS), Enric Mas (Movistar) and Thyman Arensman (Ineos Grenadiers) are left up front.
The fast pace is hurting everyone. Matteo Jorgenson is suffering in the peloton.
This is the profile of Mont Ventoux. It shows the hard, constant gradient but does not show the real difficulty of the climb.
Now there are three: only Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor), Thyman Arensman (Ineos Grenadiers), Enric Mas (Movistar) are up front, cheered along by the huge crowds.
Suddenly there was just one: Enric Mas (Movistar) surges clear.
Arensman and Alaphilippe are trying to stay close to Mas but his gap is at 20 seconds.
The peloton is at 5:40, with Visma leading with Kuss and Simon Yates.
Matteo Jorgenson was reportedly dropped before the start of the climb. Pogačar has Wellens with him and just one other UAE rider.
It seems difficult for the Pogačar GC group to catch Mas but we can still expect attacks.
Will Vingeggard hurt Pogačar or will the yellow jersey again impose his authority on the race and is big rivald?
Kuss is hurting everyone in the GC group. Felix Gall (Decathlon) has been dropped, so has Ben O'Connor (Jayco).
Enric Mas pushes on and extends his to 45 seconds on Arensman and Alaphilippe.
The Healy group is at 1:20, with the Pogačar GC group of just ten riders at 5:10.
In the absence of Jorgenson, Kuss is doing a superb job for Vingegaard.
Pogačar only has Adam Yates with him.
Up front, Mas powers on, as Healy, Paret-Peintre and Buitrago close the gap to Alaphilippe and Arensman.
Attack by Carlos Rodriguez from the GC group. This is interesting as he fights to climb up the GC from ninth.
Boom! Vingegaard attacks!
Tadej Pogačar is able to go with him but for a moment seeme to be suffering.
Suddenly the gap to mas is only 4:00 as Tiesj Benoot falsl back from the break to pace Vingegaard and Pogačar.
Behind them other riders are trying to linit their losses or even close the gap.
All of this when the riders are still in the trees. They still have to climb pass Chalet Reynard.
Attack number 2 from Vingegaard!
Tadej Pogačar responds and sits on his wheel.
5km to go
Behind Victor Campenaerts is here to pace Vingegaard and Pogačar for a moment. Visma are rolling out some excellent tactics for Vingegaard. Can he finish it off and distance Tadej Pogačar?
Ben Healy and Valentin Paret-Peintre join Enric Mas but race radio shouts out that Vingagaard and Tadej Pogačar are only 2:40 behind.
Healy attacks!
Attack number 3 by Vingegaard!
Tadej Pogačar is able to get on his wheel and they blast up the lower exposed slopes of Ventoux.
The cross winds on the exposed sectors of Ventoux will play a huge role in deciding the stage winner and the GC battle.
Valentin Paret-Peintre and Ben Healy have slowed and so Mas and Buitrago join them.
Vingegaard and Pogačar are only 1:45 behind.
Attack by Tadej Pogačar!
Vingegaard joins him and attacks him again! That's Vingagaard's 4th attack.
The gap to Vingegaard and Pogacar is only 35 seconds.
But the race for the stage win explodes! Healy attacks first.
Sprint to the summit!
Valentin Paret-Peintre wins, edging clear of Healy in the final metres!
Pogacar attacks Vingegaard in the final metres but only opens a small gap as they hit the line, 45 seconds after Valentin Paret-Peintre.
Valentin Paret-Peintre wins for Soudal-QuickStep but also gives France their first stage win of the 2025 Tour.
Primoz Roglic escorts Lipowicz to the finish to help him strengthen his third place on GC.
That's a huge win by Valentin Paret-Peintre and rightly celebrates with teammate Ilan Van Wilder, who came back to help him in the final kilometre.
Ben Healy lead out the sprint to the finish but Valentin Paret-Peintre was able to follow him and then kick past him before the line.
The provisional stage results shows that Pogacar gained two seconds on Vingegaad on the surge to the finish on Ventoux.
Vingagaard says after the stage that a photographer ran in front of him after the finish and caused him to crash. He was not happy.
This is the first image of Valentin Paret-Peintre realising he had won on Mont Ventoux.
This image is emblematic of the Tadej Pogačar- Jonas Vingegaard battle on the stage and at this year's Tour.
Wow, as the dust settles on the stage, it's difficult take it all in.
We saw a tense and tactical battle for the stage victory, a first French stage winner, and then Vingegaard attacking Pogačar four times!
Tadej Pogačar pulled on a new yellow jersey on the podium and then also took the polka-dot mountains jersey.
Jonas Vingegaard stopped to speak post stage and revealed he had crashed. beyond the finish.
Vingegaard confirmed that he is feeling stronger and promised to keep taking the race to Tadej Pogačar.
"He (Pogačar) followed me every time I attacked, and I followed him when he attacked. So I don't know if I could see any any weaknesses today. But at least it gives me some motivation how good I felt today.
These are the top 10 from stage 16 of the Tour de France.
Valentin Paret-Peintre (Soudal-Quick Step) spoke to French television after his victory.
Tadej Pogačar admitted that he did suffer at some points during the stage, probably when Vingegaard attacked him on the Ventoux.
Today Jonas really tried. They worked very well as a team together and paced the climb super well. Luckily I didn't have the same legs as 2021, so it was a good performance from my side and I kept the yellow jersey," Pogačar said, refering to the 2012 Tour when Vingegaard hurt him.
Pogačar seems ready for more attacks from Vingegaard in the Alps
It was an high-speed, tactical battle on the road to Mont Ventoux and then to the summit finish. These are the stage highlights.
To understand exactly what happened during stage 16 to Mont Ventoux, read James Moultrie's full stage report. It has the story on how the break formed at high speed, how they stayed away and how Vingegaard attacked Pogačar four times on the slopes of Ventoux.
Click here for the full report.
We'll have more news, reaction and analysis from Alasdair Fotheringham and Matilda Price in France and from our global team in the hours ahead.
Thanks for following our live coverage of stage 16. We'll be back on Wednesday for stage 17 from Bollène to Valence.
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