"We're no longer going there with just one leader": Valentin Paret-Peintre looks forward to leading the stage-hunting Wolfpack at 2026 Tour
Cycling
The 2026 Tour de France is rapidly approaching, and French cycling fans could not be more excited for the edition with Grand Depart in Barcelona. With that said, we're obviously referring to the supertalent Paul Seixas who carries home fans' hopes and dreams. But Valentin Paret-Peintre would like to find a place in the spotlight for himself by looking to accomplish smaller goals such as stage wins and mountain classifications.
The Frenchman's final preparation race was the Tour Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes where he hasn't left the best of impressions with 23rd overall in a notably reduced field, but Paret-Peintre is not the least bit worried about his trajectory towards Grande Boucle.
"Right now, I'm really where I want to be. I'm at a good level here, but not yet at my peak," the Frenchman points out to IDLProCycling.
He continued: "I felt in the first stage that things were going really well, but that there was still a small something missing. We're further ahead than last year's schedule, when I was genuinely worse at the Dauphiné."
There's enough time to fine-tune things
Paret-Peintre appeared at his best during the final mountain test when he climb to a 14th place from early breakaway, but he aims to have much better legs in three weeks from now: "I'm hoping to improve further in the build-up to the Tour," the climber said.
For Soudal - Quick-Step, it's a first Tour campaign without Remco Evenepoel in a while. And even though it's not always gone according to a plan, his absence is still a key point of the Belgian team's preparation: "It's certain that it changes the team's plans, as we're no longer going there with just one leader."
Valentin Paret-Peintre in 2026
Stage-hunting Wolfpack
So what ambitions is he taking to Barcelona? "It gives me more freedom to go for stage wins, so that's quite favourable for me," he concluded.
Quick-Step's lineup for the 2026 edition appears more or less set in the stone already with a team centered around Tim Merlier for bunch sprints and Mikel Landa in the mountains. However the Basque is hardly a real contender for one of the top results in overall classification, thus allowing riders such as Ilan Van Wilder and Paret-Peintre set out in a search of own result.
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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- This is a really interesting idea, which, if well prepared could even be very successful. Very little money needs to be involved for a first season and any success could lead to rapid interest from sponsors.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Hmmm, you seem to have a very convenient black and white view of things. Perhaps you haven’t been around much to discover how complex problems can become over time with people who know how to control, manipulate (or worse) others so gradually or subtly that you arrive at an irresolvable situation before you realise. This is how many inconveniences get introduced to the young, naïve, passionate or “desperate”, knowing they are not armed, protected or strong enough to defend themselves once it’s too late. Why do you think omerta culture is so widespread, why do you think so many people continue to go through so many awful things in life that others can’t understand anyone getting into? Life may be far more jolly for you but you would do well to understand (or reflect more on) the real world to refrain from being so quick to criticise those in a hard spot that may have genuine reason for speaking out.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Seriously do you think when somebody gets into a serious accident, the ambulance is called by the hurt person?🤦 there is always a buddy system in place for a risky job. police , firefighters etc so that if someone gets hurt, the other call that in.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I get the point totally. We live in the snowflake society where some riders forget they are getting paid to ride and get results. When they have a few issues they try to look outside of the real issue instead of themselves. It odd so many of the team are making no complaints and getting on with their job. If you do not like what you do find another job simples. Tough love as my mum would say.paultryan200207-11-2026
- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
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