Neilson Powless blames lack of support as Ben Healy misses podium at Amstel Gold Race: "People know he's a super strong rider, so they were nervous to ride with him"

Despite a typically bright and attacking showing, Ben Healy couldn't replicate his heroic performance from the 2023 edition of the Amstel Gold Race in 2025, with the Irishman eventually forced to settle for a 10th placed finish at the line.

Back in 2023, Healy finished 2nd to Tadej Pogacar, having threatened to pull off a stunning comeback in the final section of the race. This year, Pogacar was caught back after attacking by eventual race winner Mattias Skjelmose and Remco Evenepoel, but sadly for Healy, he missed the decisive move as it left the chase group.

"I’ve got mixed emotions. I think I rode a pretty good race and I had the legs, but it's a tactical race and maybe I just missed out a little bit here or there," the former Irish national champion reflected honestly in post-race quotes to the official website of his EF Education-EasyPost team. "That is what makes it such a great race. After this, I have got a positive mindset and am optimistic going into the next races. I know that the form is there."

Healy wasn't the only EF Education-EasyPost man there or thereabouts at Amstel Gold Race. Crossing the line in 13th, just 15 seconds down on his teammate was recent Dwars door Vlaanderen winner Neilson Powless.

"Ben and I were up there, fighting for a podium place for a while. I was caught out a little bit when Evenepoel went and I tried to chase him. I was already on my limit, cramping from quite a ways out," the American reflects in the same press release. "I kept coming back because the climbs are short. So I just tried to ride a steady pace to get back and help Ben. In the end, Ben and I were both just missing a bit too much snap to really get away again."

"Ben put in a really nice move with around 10 kilometers to go, but unfortunately he couldn't stick it. I think he was having trouble getting guys to work with him. People know that he's a super strong rider and he's going be strong the last time up the Cauberg, so they were nervous to ride with him," concludes Powless' assessment of proceedings on Easter Sunday. "I felt really strong. I was just cramping off and on, which inhibited me a bit. Now, I’m looking forward to the rest of the Ardennes!"