"Richie and I can race aggressively" - Ben Healy eager to attack Amstel Gold Race in search of victory

EF Education-EasyPost saw Ben Healy do a tremendous ride last year at Amstel Gold Race, finishing second only to Tadej Pogacar. This year, the Irishman set the Dutch classic as a big goal for the spring and sets off with high ambitions.

He certainly has the reasons for it, being very well suited for the roller-coaster profile and long distances presented. Healy will be one of the many outsiders who will look to ride away without Mathieu van der Poel, the main favourite, in the wheel. But he's not the only option the team has at the start.

“I don't think it's up to us to set the course from the start. Hopefully there will be a thinned out group with me, Richard Carapaz and Marijn van den Berg," he said ahead of the race. Van den Berg rode a brilliant Brabantse Pijl, climbing like never before, and provides another card for the American team to play both in an attacked race or a possible sprint towards the end.

"If he is there, Marijn can take the sit-and-wait-for-the-sprint role, while Richie (Richard Carapaz, ed.) and I can race aggressively.” Healy will sure hope to do so and will have plenty roads in which to attack from the peloton.