"Ben is what we want as a leader" - Healy signs new deal with EF Education-EasyPost until 2029

EF Education-EasyPost have announced the renewal of Ben Healy. The Irishman had a running contract already with the team, but this has now been extended all the way into 2029 as the American team looks to secure in its ranks a homegrown talent who has become an absolute leader.

“I’m close mates with the guys on the team, and that creates an infectious atmosphere that brings everyone closer together,” Healy said in a press release. “It’s not just us guys, it’s everyone, all the staff. There’s not a race or a training camp you go to where you are disappointed to be there. It’s always good fun and the dinner table’s always a great laugh. We spend so many days on the road, so that is super important. It makes you work that bit harder for each other.”

Healy joined the team in 2022 after two years at Trinity Racing and has since evolved exponentially. After his breakthrough in 2023 when he won a stage at the Giro d'Italia, the national championships, and was one of the very best riders in the entire Ardennes week, it became clear that Healy had the potential to ride at the top. In recent years he has only solidified that reputation, adding consistency to his strong performances.

This year he was one of the season's top performers and EF's headliner, taking a stage win, Top10 and spending some days in the yellow jersey at the Tour de France; finishing on the podium of the World Championships and Liège-Bastogne-Liège; and finishing in the Top5 of other high-level classics such as Strade Bianche and Flèche Wallonne. It was a tremendous season, specially for a puncheur, a type of rider that has been less and less prominent in the peloton.

“I want to lead by example. I want to go about it how I always have done. I love the process of getting better. Coming out of the offseason, after not riding my bike for a couple of weeks, I was so excited to get back into that process. I find it so rewarding. To be here in this position with the palmarès that I have is something I’m super proud of," he admits. "I have grown so much as a rider and really refined my craft. I’ve never lost the hunger for it.”

Healy will be aiming for the same races in 2026, looking to add presitigous titles into his palmarès at Strade Bianche and the Ardennes. The Montreal World Championships look like a perfect fit for the 25-year old, who is going to be a contender for the medals with a high degree of certainty.

But above all, he is happy in the American team and was happy to extend his stay. “The racing is just a bonus at the end. Getting to that place where I know I can go compete with the best is what motivates me. I enjoy racing and I enjoy being at the front of a race, but if you don’t put in the work, you’re not going to be there. The wins are obviously amazing, but it’s just getting to the point where you are able to race and compete to win those races that drives me.”

Team CEO Jonathan Vaughters shared his thoughts on the renewal as well: “Ben is what we want as a leader. He is thoughtful and always seeking to improve. Most importantly, he is always willing to risk. Our team has and always will be built on the outsider willing to take a chance. Ben is that.”