Where does Ben Healy’s "crazy" fairy tale end? "just a few more minutes to make up on them"

As mentioned, Healy is not a surprise for EF Education-EasyPost, unlike Magdeleine Vallieres in the women's race the day before. And unlike Kristen Faulkner in the road race at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. The American team almost always delivers its best riders in the best possible shape, and Rwanda was no exception.

“This is quite special,” agreed Healy, after finishing third in Kigali. “I've worked hard for this this season, and to be on the podium with Tadej and Remco is amazing.” The Irishman's smile on the podium was therefore genuine, alongside Pogacar's broad smile. Evenepoel was the only one who had to work a little harder for a genuine smile.

Healy is now in the process of building up an impressive list of achievements. Before the World Championships, he already had ten victories to his name, ranging from stage wins in smaller races in Italy, Luxembourg, and Slovenia to major WorldTour victories in the Giro d'Italia and, this year, in the Tour of the Basque Country and the Tour de France. He also wore the yellow jersey in the Tour.

A bronze World Championship medal fits perfectly into Healy's development, who already finished second in the Brabantse Pijl and Amstel Gold Race in 2023 and third in Liège-Bastogne-Liège this year. The tougher the races, the better Healy seems to be. “This season is increasingly crazy, from a stage victory and the yellow jersey in the Tour, now to the podium at the World Championships.”

It wasn't the first time that Healy and EF Education-EasyPost's secret weapon was their equipment. We have often seen the team wearing fast time trial helmets in road races, and an exceptional speed suit was no exception. On Sunday, Healy wore a different version of it. “We put a lot of work into it. It was a particular course with slow climbs and hot weather. It was perfect.”

However, it will take more than a fast suit to catch up with top riders like Pogacar and Evenepoel in the coming years. Healy looked back on the World Championships with a smile: “Tadej is one of the greatest this sport has ever seen, and Remco is not far behind him. It's crazy that I'm standing on the podium with them.”

“I still have a few minutes to make up on them, so we're going to work hard for that.”