Ben Healy over the moon with Tour de France award: "Exactly the kind of rider I hoped to be when I was younger"

“After adding up the votes of the jury and the public, it is the Irishman who is rewarded for his resolutely offensive Tour,” reports the Tour de France channel on social media. Alongside Healy, Thymen Arensman (INEOS Grenadiers), Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno X-Mobility), Bruno Armirail (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale), Jordan Jegat (TotalEnergies), Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek), Michael Storer (Tudor), and Tim Wellens (UAE Emirates-XRG) were also nominated.

Healy was on the offensive three times in this Tour de France. It earned him a stage victory and secured two podium spots (second and third). Thanks to his third place in stage 10, on France's national holiday, the 24-year-old captured the yellow leader's jersey. In stage 12 to Hautacam, the attacker lost his jersey to Pogacar. After falling out of the top 10 in the overall standings in that stage, Healy fought his way back into the top ten riders in this Tour by attacking frequently. Provided there are no problems in the final stage, Healy will finish in ninth place in Paris.

The Irishman proved in this Tour that he can also stand his ground in the high mountains. In the stage to Luchon-Superbagnères, Healy finished seventh, and in the stage to the top of Mont Ventoux, Healy fought for the stage victory but had to settle for second place in the end. In the stage to La Plagne, won by Arensman, Healy finished eighth, retaining his place in the top 10.  

“This Tour de France was a dream come true. Winning a stage, wearing the yellow jersey—you couldn't ask for much more,” Healy said after the race. "It was extraordinary to have the guys riding for me. The Tour is the biggest race in the world, and having their support was truly incredible. A huge thank you to them, because what I achieved in this Tour would not have been possible without this team,“ he said, thanking his EF teammates.

”It will be special to stand on the podium in Paris. Super combative is precisely the kind of rider I hoped to be when I was younger. I'm very proud of that,“ said the Irishman. ”I think I've learned during this Tour to just stick to what I know and keep doing what I know works. This Tour de France has confirmed to me that it's sometimes a slow process, but that I always get there in the end."