"It was absolutely incredible." Healy far from disappointed after losing yellow jersey to Pogacar

“It's just unbelievable, I can't really believe it yet,” Healy said on Monday at the top of the Puy de Sancy. Four days earlier, he won the sixth stage to Vire Normandie from a breakaway, but suddenly there was also a yellow jersey for the Irishman. “How many riders have had the chance to wear yellow? But now I've done both, which is surreal."

Healy achieved this, in part, thanks to a tactical coup by his EF Education-EasyPost team, although the key was very much in the hands of UAE Emirates-XRG. “We just had to see how the stage unfolded and how UAE would ride. It was really up to them. They rode a very different race than they normally would, and we took full advantage of that. We had four men in the breakaway, and when the gap started to grow, we started to believe. Then we gave it our all.”

He got to wear the yellow jersey for two days, until UAE took control in the final phase of the twelfth stage and Pogacar powered away on the final climb. The Slovenian world champion reached the top of Hautacam 13 minutes and 38 seconds ahead of Healy, taking the lead in the GC from the Irishman.

“The guys did a fantastic job,” said Healy afterwards. “The whole team honored this jersey. I am extremely grateful to everyone for today. We rode a perfect race. We wanted to make a big break and ride at the front of the peloton, and we succeeded. Harry (Sweeny, ed.) was there too, and he really saved me a lot of time today,” said the new number eleven in the general classification.

“I just got cooked out on the Soulor, that's all I can say about it,” continued the Irishman, who was impressed by the people along the road. “The fans were absolutely amazing. At the start of the final climb, I was 13 minutes behind, and I think I got the biggest cheer. I want to thank everyone who wrote my name, shouted at me, or cheered me on. It was just incredible.”