Paret-Peintre super-domestique for Evenepoel? Don't think so: "The Landa project suits me perfectly"

Valentin Paret-Peintre has decided to embark on an adventure abroad by joining Soudal Quick-Step. After years at Decathlon-AG2R, a team he considered a second family, he decided to move to the Belgian formation. With great enthusiasm, he is looking forward to his role as a domestique to Mikel Landa and Remco Evenepoel, an experience he sees as a challenge and an opportunity to grow.

During a press moment in Calpe, Paret-Peintre spoke his first words in English and reflected on his transition to his new team. It was the moment when the Frenchman officially began his new chapter in cycling. "Cycling works in phases, and although 2024 was a very good season for the Decathlon, nothing guarantees that 2025 will be as good, although I wish them that. What made me doubt it the most was the Decathlon setting, with the comfort it offers, with people I have known for a long time. I left behind a second family after all," he told l'Equipe.

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Paret-Peintre in his new kit

Paret-Peintre super-domestique for Landa in Giro

The choice to join Soudal Quick-Step was an opportunity for him to step outside the familiar environment of Decathlon. Paret-Peintre was ready to enter a different environment where his growth as a rider would be central. "I felt like venturing abroad, and Belgium was an easy choice since many people speak French. You do notice a different culture," says the Frenchman. "In the beginning, the leaders of Soudal told me, "In France, you are a bit in a bubble; it is difficult for a foreigner to enter a French team and for a Frenchman to go to a foreign team."

Paret-Peintre faces - not surprisingly - a spring with a lot of climbing. He starts in the Tour of Oman, then the Tirreno-Adriatico, the Tour of Catalonia, and finally the Giro d'Italia. Surprisingly, the Frenchman is doing almost all those races as Landa's domestique and, thus, not Evenepoel's. "I will assist Mikel in achieving the best possible GC and get some chances at the beginning of the season in the Drôme-Ardèche classics. Of course, there is Remco, but someone like Mikel in the team has convinced me (to come here). I will learn a lot with Mikel, which was a factor in my decision."

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Paret-Peintre won the tenth stage at the 2024 Giro

Tour is another option, but Paret-Peintre does not like the idea

These are still somewhat striking statements, but Paret-Peintre can explain them. "Remco is an example, a great champion, but I don't see him as an idol because we are only a year apart. I have known him for a long time. He won everything in the juniors and finished 10 minutes ahead of us in every race."

The 23-year-old climber is still on the list to do the Tour de France, Peeters says. "First on the Giro next to Mikel, but for the Tour, it will be good to have him with Remco," the Belgian sports director believes. Yet Paret-Peintre himself is not convinced of that. "Do I feel like riding the Giro and then the Tour? Not really. You must be 110% ready to ride the Tour well and enjoy it. The project with Mikel suits me perfectly," said the Frenchman.

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