"No luck involved here" – Roche salutes Healy on historic day for Ireland at the Tour de France
Cycling
Ben Healy’s ride into yellow on Stage 10 of the Tour de
France didn’t just mark a breakthrough for EF Education–EasyPost, it also
rewrote Irish cycling history. Healy became the first rider from Ireland in 38
years to wear the maillot jaune, and the last man to do so, Stephen Roche, was
watching closely.
“What a performance it was,” Roche told Sticky Bottle.
“There’s no beating around the bush, no luck involved here. It was sheer sweat,
tears and blood. He did everything perfectly.”
Roche, now 65, knows exactly what that jersey means. In
1987, he completed the rare triple: Tour de France, Giro d’Italia, and World
Championship titles. That year, he wore yellow. Now, Healy joins him in the
select group of Irish riders to have done the same.
Healy is the first Irishman to wear yellow in 38 years
Stage 10 saw Healy deliver another all-or-nothing
performance, this time for the overall lead. Already a stage winner earlier in
the Tour, Healy rode solo over the final 15 kilometers after breaking clear
from a shrinking lead group. Simon Yates won the stage, but Healy walked away
with the bigger prize, after dragging the break away with enough time to lead
the GC.
“There was no luck to this,” Roche emphasised. “He earned
every inch of that road.”
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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