“He really has the full package" - EF DS 'immensely proud' of new Maillot Jaune Ben Healy

Ben Healy has been one of the stars of the 2025 Tour de France over the first 10 stages. After securing his first stage win at the Tour in Vire Normandie, the EF Education-EasyPost star became just the 4th Irishman ever to claim the Maillot Jaune on stage 10 on Monday. 

“It’s pretty wild that we managed to pull it off,” reflected EF Education-EasyPost sports director Matti Breschel in conversation with Feltet.dk. “It’s been a dream and a plan ever since the Tour began — to get Ben into yellow. But making that plan a reality is something else entirely. Winning a bike race is incredibly difficult.”

“After the first week, there’s been one rider — Tadej Pogacar — dominating all the headlines. For us to be lucky enough that they were willing to give up the jersey, and for Ben to be riding so phenomenally that he could finish the job... it’s just unbelievable," Breschel adds. "I’m immensely proud of him and the entire team.”

Breschel was one of the first to give Healy congratulations, after he managed to take the Yellow Jersey. “I doubt he’ll even see my message, haha. But I wrote to say how proud I am of him," the Dane praises. "It’s a privilege to work with a rider like Ben — especially someone who’s genuinely likeable. He really has the full package — loads of X-factor, a bit of edge, and a strong attitude. Personally, I think that’s fantastic.”

“He doesn’t hide what he wants from the team. He demands a lot from his teammates, but in a really positive way. He raises the whole team’s level — gets everyone to step up. I love that he’s so unfiltered, not afraid to show if he’s disappointed about something,” Breschel continues. “When it comes to things like aerodynamics, he’s one of the trailblazers on our team. He’s incredibly meticulous.”