"I tried to refine my racing style" - Incredible legs and flawless tactics see Ben Healy take the biggest win of his career at the Tour de France
Cycling
Ben Healy is a young rider still, but has achieved a lot throughout his career. However, nothing can compare to today's victory at the Tour de France in which he won in his own traditional style. The Irishman is setting himself as one of the very best breakaway specialists of an entire generation and now has a second Grand Tour victory in his palmarès.
"It's truly incredible, it's what I've always worked for, not just this year but my entire career. Hours and hours of hard work from so many people, I was able to repay that today, and that's fantastic," the 24-year old said in a post-race interview. Healy was part of the day's eight-rider breakaway, one in which he had to work incredibly hard to be part of. He was joined by other specialists such as Mathieu van der Poel and Quinn Simmons.
After last year's Tour debut he learnt further how to use his abilities as a rider, and used all that knowledge today. "Last year was an eye-opener for me; I started to believe I could do it. I just had to keep my head down and keep putting in the hard work. I tried to refine my racing style; I reviewed a lot of footage. That paid off today".
"I was on the attack from the start. I might have pushed a bit too hard to get into the breakaway, but that's how I do it. We really had to work to maintain the lead; it was a real pedal-to-the-metal fight all day". A single attack with 43 kilometers to the finish was enough to create the decisive gap to his group companions.
I" knew I had to break away from the group and pick my moment. I think my timing was good; I caught them off guard a bit. Then I had to keep my head down and give it my all until the finish." What first looked to be a well-timed attack soon proved to also be the perfect use for what were the best legs in the group. No-one could chase him down, and the gap only grew all the way into the finish in Vire Normandie - a very difficult final kilometers with two short but steep ascents.
"This was a stage I had circled in red from the start, to take it at the first opportunity, which is amazing," he admits. It is a dream triumph and a goal accomplished for EF Education-EasyPost already early in the race. "I grew up watching the Tour, hoping I could be there one day. That in itself is an achievement, but to win a stage: that's amazing".
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Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
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Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
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- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
- Yeah man...PogiSloFans07-11-2026
- any rider less than 25 whether they are really ready for the position of leadership of GT is probably not the case. I think Pogi himself suffered when he was defeated by Jonas in the TDF twice. But that would be the team's job to ensure support so that they can bounce back. It requires a team and time to get back up and win after getting knocked down.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I'm very glad he got the big late Quickstep Vuelta win and I hope he has a few left for Euskaltel-Euskadi.flyer07-11-2026
- My memories of Ivan Basso aren't good but I liked his sister Elisa ok.flyer07-11-2026
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