The Tour x2=Paret-Peintre. The stage that concludes tomorrow at Plateau de Solaison has a passion epicenter fixed at km 146, on the short Cote du Mont, when there will be 37 km remaining to the finish line.

«We are expecting about a hundred supporters, we will celebrate with entertainment, community picnic, buffet, starting at noon and enjoying the view of the stage». The person speaking is not a namesake of Aurelien and Valentin, he is the very active father of the two brothers from Upper Savoy.

Monsieur Olivier is «a proud parent for what his sons have managed to do, let me add Maeva, please, former track champion, whom I used to accompany as a child to the Geneva velodrome. And who is now a nutritionist, working for Decathlon Cgm as a chef who prepares meal portions».

Although nothing is left to chance in setting up the Paret-Peintre fan zone - the only requirement requested is the desire to celebrate and be together - the mountain finish is a special occasion, a stage marked with a red circle and enfant du pays for the 25-year-old from Soudal Quick-Step who celebrated on Mont Ventoux a year ago: «Valentin confided in me that on the climb not far from our home, in Annemasse, he made battle plans. He knows Solaison very well, his splendid performance at the 2025 Tour gave him full awareness of his climbing abilities, giving us as a family (including his brother who was racing, editor's note) and especially him thrilling emotions. It was the culmination of what my sons achieved in the two years before the Giro d'Italia, with Valentin's success in 2024 and Aurelien's in 2023».

The “older” of the two Paret-Peintre brothers, 30 years old, is living this Grande Boucle with a very delicate task: «He has been roommates since the start of the season with Paul Seixas. My son is very thoughtful and has developed a good relationship of dialogue and trust with the great promise of our cycling, moreover also originally from our Region. A captain and general classification rider at 19 years old whom I already judge ready for the challenge, as his career has always progressed in terms of results».

Olivier, who years ago also collaborated with the Moroccan cycling federation as a sports director, cycles for pleasure whenever work allows: «I have no problem waking up at dawn to do my two hours of cycling, without pretensions like when I raced as an amateur, nothing compared to what my boys do. They go very fast and I am particularly proud when I remember Aurelien's victory at the Annemasse Classic, a race with a very long history. The first edition was organized in 1914 and since then our club has been very active both in promoting cycling among children and young people and in the senior categories of the youth pyramid. The results come, for me it's about one concept: I see my sons among the professionals and I can only be proud of them, but if it hadn't been for the Veloclub Annemasse, founded in 1897, perhaps I wouldn't be telling this beautiful family story».

He's right, wearing the hat of president and factotum, Olivier Paret-Peintre, who about a month ago was in Italy as a mechanic for the Decathlon Cgm team. And who works independently and from home: «Need a bicycle repair? They call me and I arrive on site with my mobile workshop. A tailor-made service that the cycling community really appreciates».

And maybe the question about Valentin and Aurelien comes up, right?