Valentin Paret-Peintre will continue to race for Soudal Quick-Step for years to come. The French climber extended his contract on Wednesday until the end of 2028. Paret-Peintre made a strong impression this season, especially in the Tour de France: the 24-year-old rider won the mountain stage finishing on the legendary Mont Ventoux.
The French climber joined Soudal Quick-Step in 2025 and immediately made an impact. In the Tour of Oman, he won the queen stage and finished second overall, behind only Adam Yates in the general classification. Due to physical setbacks, he initially struggled to confirm his form, but in the Tour de France, the slender climber resurfaced. And how: with a victory on the slopes of the iconic Mont Ventoux, he made French cycling hearts beat faster.
The youngest of the cycling Paret-Peintre brothers hopes to shine even more often in the Soudal Quick-Step kit in the coming years. "I’m very happy here. I feel at home in the team and have built strong bonds with the riders and staff," he said in a press release. "I love being part of this group, whether in races or training camps."
Paret-Peintre celebrates his victory on Mont Ventoux – photo: Fotopersburo Cor Vos
"Extending my contract until 2028 means a lot to me, because this past season showed how much I can grow in this environment. I have a lot of confidence in this team and that trust is entirely reciprocal, which is very motivating and drives me to keep improving."
Reaction from Jurgen Foré
Jurgen Foré, CEO of Soudal Quick-Step, is very pleased with Paret-Peintre’s performance. "It was immediately clear that Valentin possesses the qualities we value most at Soudal Quick-Step. And by that, we don’t just mean his talent, but also his mentality, ambition, and drive to improve."
"His results speak for themselves, but just as important is how he integrated into the group and embraced our racing style. Extending his contract was a logical and strategic decision for us. With Valentin’s extension, we are investing in the ambitions this team has for mountain races and grand tours. We are proud to build something strong and ambitious over the coming years."
