PRESS CONFERENCE: “It would be nice to fight for the polka dot jersey” - Valentin Paret-Peintre sets Tour de France mountain target after Ventoux heroics
CyclingFriday, 03 July 2026 at 15:00
Valentin Paret-Peintre returns to the Tour de France with one of the hardest things in cycling already ticked off: winning on Mont Ventoux. Now the Soudal - Quick-Step climber has another mountain target in mind.
CyclingUpToDate were present at Soudal - Quick-Step’s pre-Tour press conference to document every word. Paret-Peintre was asked about his ambitions one year on from his Ventoux victory, and made clear that he is not interested in turning himself into a cautious GC rider simply to chase a lower top-10 finish.
Instead, the Frenchman wants freedom, breakaways, stage opportunities and a possible run at the mountains classification. After becoming Soudal’s latest Tour stage winner last summer, Paret-Peintre enters this edition with more attention from the French public and media, but insisted his own mindset has not changed much.
The polka-dot jersey is now part of the plan. Paret-Peintre said it would be “one of my big goals” at this Tour, while also pointing to two chances on Alpe d’Huez as potential days to chase the kind of emotion he experienced on Ventoux.
Full Valentin Paret-Peintre press conference Q&A
Question: Since 2017, no French rider has brought home a distinctive jersey from the Tour de France. Is that something that inspires you? Do you want to reset that statistic this year?
Valentin Paret-Peintre: I did not have the statistic in mind, but for sure the polka-dot jersey will be one of my big goals at this Tour de France.
So if I can reset that statistic, it would be with pleasure.
Question: Last year, you already won on Mont Ventoux, one of the greatest mountains of the Tour. How can you improve on that this year, and why are you not trying to go for the overall classification?
Valentin Paret-Peintre: Yes, for sure it will be hard to win a better stage than Mont Ventoux.
But this year we have two chances on Alpe d’Huez, so that will be a big goal for me also. With the polka-dot jersey, I hope that I can also feel some nice emotions like I felt last year on Mont Ventoux. That is why I also want to go for the polka-dot jersey.
Paret-Peintre took a famous win on Mont Ventoux in 2025
Question: One year later, what has changed for you in the way you approach the Tour?
Valentin Paret-Peintre: I do not think a lot has changed, even if last year we had a totally different objective. It also changed the way I approach the race.
The public recognises me, the media asks for a bit more time, but in my head it has not changed much. Maybe I put a bit more pressure on myself, but other than that it has not changed much.
Question: You mentioned the polka-dot jersey and the stages earlier. What do you think about your position in the general classification?
Valentin Paret-Peintre: As I have always said, my vision of cycling is not to be close to a place in the GC between seventh and tenth.
That would be a nice performance for me, but as I am not able to play for the top five or even the podium, I will not try to play for GC. That is not the case yet. I prefer to focus on stages. Going from the front in breakaways is the way I like to race. That is what suits me and what suits me at the moment.
Question: We have been talking about very hot weather for the first week of the Tour. The stages have been particularly rough. Is that something you are looking at, observing and preparing for? Or does it worry you?
Valentin Paret-Peintre: Of course, it is becoming more and more important in cycling. We have already been exposed to very hot weather, especially during the national championship, and it will continue for this Tour de France. Obviously, we are looking at the weather.
Now we are looking at the heat more than the rain. But we are all well prepared for the heat. We have all been training in the heat. I think it can change the race and make some mistakes in some corners. But I think everyone is well prepared for this race.
Question: How are you preparing for the first two stages here, with the Montjuic climb for example?
Valentin Paret-Peintre: For the time being, it will be quite simple for each team. We will just try to make the best time possible. There is not necessarily any apprehension.
Then the second stage will be quite complicated, with a lot of positioning on the road. This final circuit in Montjuic is quite similar to the last stage of the Volta a Catalunya, so it is not something completely unknown.
But it will definitely bring a lot of stress in the peloton. Already, why not, there could be small gaps in the general classification. So for sure the peloton will be tense and it will already be a very difficult stage.
Question: Your brother is probably approaching the Tour with a lot of pressure too. Do you talk to each other about it? He will have an important role. Are you more relaxed than him before this Tour?
Valentin Paret-Peintre: Yes, that is for sure. We have kind of reversed the roles compared to last year.
We often talk about the pressure you can have when you support a GC rider, and even more at the Tour de France. But I find him quite serene, and I am sure he will do his job wonderfully.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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