In an interview with Première Heure Sports, Valentin Paret-Peintre takes stock of his first season at Soudal-Quick Step, and looks forward to 2026, where he believes that the departure of Remco Evenepoel will leave him a little more room.
Arriving last winter at Soudal-Quick Step after having spent his entire career at AG2R, Valentin Paret-Peintre (24 years old) generally had a successful first season with the Belgian team, with a stage victory on the Tour of Oman in February, and of course the victory at the summit of Mont Ventoux in July during the Tour de France.
The French runner takes stock in an interview with
Last Hour Sports and confides his joy at having joined the Belgian team. “I’m really delighted. The team’s nickname, “Wolfpack”, is not just a joke. The team is truly like family, and the welcome is incredible. Among my teammates, I already consider Louis Vervaeke and Ilan Van Wilder as friends. »
Paret-Peintre: “His transfer can, in a certain way, be beneficial for the team”
But next season will mark a turning point for Soudal-Quick Step, which will have to do without its best rider of recent years, Remco Evenepoel, who joined Red Bull – Bora Hansgrohe. Valentin Paret-Peintre believes that this hard blow can turn into something positive for the team, and why not for him.
“The departure of Remco will inevitably shake up the situation within the team. Until this season, and this was completely normal, he was always our leader during the competitions in which he participated. Now guys like Ilan, (Mikel) Landa and myself, for example, will have to take on more responsibility. His transfer can, in some way, be beneficial for the team. By that I mean it will breathe new life into it, allowing other players to progress and flourish in a different role, with more responsibility. »
One-week race goal
For 2026, the French runner has great ambitions: “I will aim more for the general classification of one-week races. I also want to try my luck on a Grand Tour. I know that the course of the next Tour de France, with its unique hilly individual time trial, suits me well, but I think it’s still a little too difficult for me at the moment. I think it’s wiser to first see what I can do on a Giro or a Vuelta. »
In 2024, at just 23 years old, “VPP” finished 16th in the Giro and won a stage. His room for improvement is still significant and he can therefore hope to do better.
