Norwegian cyclist Tobias Johannessen has collapsed at the finish line atop Mont Ventoux after stage 16 of the Tour de France.
Johannessen was taken to hospital after being given oxygen by a race doctor immediately after finishing the stage, where he at times looked in physical pain, clutching at his stomach and chest.
Johannessen retained eighth place in the general classifications despite his struggles on the stage, won by Frenchman Valentin Paret-Peintre.
Johannessen's Uno-X team said he "suffered some right-sided upper abdominal pain during the final climb today" before being taken to "local hospital for further checks".
He later returned to the team hotel, telling Norwegian media he struggled with his stomach and hyperventilation during the stage but had been given the all clear after tests at the hospital.
"When I crossed the finish line, I just had to lie on my back to catch my breath," he told TV2, adding a decision was still to be made about whether he would continue in the race.
"We will do another round of tests tomorrow, but I am positive. Everything we have done looks very good … so we will most likely be ready again tomorrow."
Meanwhile, Soudal-Quick Step rider Paret-Peintre gave France its first win of this year's Tour by edging out Ireland's Ben Healy in a heart-pounding sprint finale on the Giant of Provence.
"I honestly didn't believe it," he said.
"I thought [leader Tadej] Pogacar would go for victory today. But when we built a real gap, I told myself, 'You can't let a win on Mont Ventoux slip through your fingers.'"
Seven riders surged ahead from an early breakaway, carving out a healthy 6 minute and 30 second buffer as they reached the base of the climb.
Spanish climber Enric Mas led the charge, attacking solo 14.2 kilometres from the summit as Paret-Peintre, Healy and Colombia's Santiago Buitrago gave chase.
Belgian Ilan Van Wilder fought his way back to the group and dug deep for teammate Paret-Peintre to keep the Pogacar-Jonas Vingegaard threat at bay.
Vingegaard had attacked a handful of times, the first attempt coming 9 kilometres from the top, but could not shake off Pogacar.
With 400 metres to go and the gradient spiking to a lung-scorching 10 per cent, Healy launched his sprint but Paret-Peintre clung to his wheel.
In the final metres, he surged past, claiming not just a stage win, but also a place in French cycling folklore.
He was only the fifth Frenchman to conquer the Ventoux, the mountain that claimed the life of Tom Simpson, who died in hospital after collapsing in the finale of the ascent in 1967.
Pogacar remained unshakable in yellow, fending off Vingegaard on the brutal 21.5km ascent averaging 7.5 per cent.
Defending champion Pogacar clawed two more seconds from his Danish rival in a final surge to extend his overall lead to 4:15 after setting the record for the climb, riding up in 54:41— 1:10 faster than the previous best mark set by Spain's Iban Mayo in 2004.
The Slovenian also beat the fastest time from the Saint-Esteve bend, where the toughest section starts by clocking 44:48. The previous record was held by the late Marco Pantani (46:00).
"I had a bad day in 2021 on the Ventoux. Today was the opposite. I had good legs. I enjoyed myself," Pogacar, chasing a fourth Tour title, said.
"We will try to go for another stage win. He [Vingegaard] attacked a lot of times but I knew that I could follow the wheel."
Vingegaard suffered a brief crash after the line but said his performance gave him confidence that he was still in contention for a third title.
"How I felt good today gives me motivation," he said.
"I will keep trying.
ABC/Reuters
