“If the organisation wants Tadej Pogacar to win...” – Valentin Paret-Peintre raises motorbike concerns as breakaway hopes fade again in Romandie

Valentin Paret-Peintre delivered one of the most pointed post-stage reactions of the Tour de Romandie after another aggressive breakaway effort ended in frustration, with the Frenchman questioning the role of race motorbikes as the peloton once again swept clear.

The Soudal - Quick-Step rider was part of a strong move that shaped the early phase of the queen stage, later joined by Primoz Roglic after the Slovenian attempted to turn his general classification deficit into an attacking opportunity.

For Paret-Peintre, Roglic’s presence was no surprise. “It wasn’t really a surprise to see Roglic at the front. He had lost time over the last two days, so we knew it was a possibility he would go up the road. For me, he was a good companion in the break,” he explained to Cycling Pro Net post-race.

“I was a bit disappointed when the first group went after 10 kilometres, but when Red Bull started riding again, I quickly understood that Roglic wanted to make the jump on the climb, so that worked out quite well for me,” added the Frenchman.

The breakaway never lacked commitment. With several motivated riders and clear cooperation, the group pushed hard in an attempt to stay clear on a stage that always looked finely balanced between attackers and the favourites. “We were riding really hard. There was good cooperation and we did our maximum in the break,” Paret-Peintre said.

But despite those efforts, the outcome followed a now familiar pattern in this year’s race. “We couldn’t keep enough of an advantage. It’s a bit disappointing.”

That frustration was not just about the result, but about the conditions in which the chase unfolded. “I’d have to look at the images, but I hope the motorbikes weren’t too close behind, because that was the case in the last two days,” he added.

It was at that point that Paret-Peintre’s reaction sharpened, pointing towards a wider concern that has surfaced repeatedly in modern racing when breakaways are reeled in under tight margins. “If the organisation wants Tadej Pogacar to win, that’s their choice. We’ve said it several times. But that’s life.”

The comment reflects a perception, shared at times within the peloton, that convoy positioning can influence the dynamics between breakaway groups and the chasing bunch, particularly on open or fast sections of road. On this stage, the gap never stretched to a level that offered real security, and once the pace lifted behind, the escape was always under threat.

Despite the outcome, Paret-Peintre took encouragement from his own performance on a demanding parcours that exposed many riders.

“Good sensations. It was still a really hard day, especially the middle section which didn’t suit me so well on the flat, and I suffered quite a bit there,” he said. “But on the final climb I felt that I was still good, so yeah, that’s positive.”

In a race dominated once again by Pogacar on the decisive terrain, the breakaway’s fate ultimately followed the expected script. Yet Paret-Peintre’s words ensured that the conversation extended beyond the result itself, adding another layer to the debate around how those outcomes are shaped.