Ben Healy is completely new to the Irish scene yet is already national champion. Above, on his way to the junior TT crown in Co Sligo last night (Photo: Sean Rowe)
Riding his first Irish championships and having only declared for Ireland this year, Ben Healy won the Irish junior TT crown last night.
Riding for the Oxfordshire-based Zappi Racing Team, Healy won it well; from Aaron Doherty (NRPT) and Breandán Flannagan (Powerhouse Sport)
Healy recorded a time of 44:32; some 1:55 up on Doherty. Flannagan was just another six seconds back.
However, one look at Healy’s recent international results suggests his winning the title was not a major surprise.
His team often riders abroad with its junior and U23 riders; the latter competing in the recent Baby Giro.
He was 9th in the Guido Reybrouck Classic (1.1) in Belgium early in the year. Then at the three-stage Tour des Portes du Pays d'Othe (2.1) in France he was 12th overall and 3rd in the mountains classification.
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Just last month in Holland he rode the 36th Spie Internationale Juniorendriedaagse (2.1).
He won stage 2, with a solo move, and was 6th in the TT. That left him 7th overall and 4th in the points classification.
Top down: Winning in Holland last year, road racing with Zappi RT and on top of a very strong podium yesterday in Sligo.
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Last year he rode the Ronde des Vallées (2.1) in France; placing 4th and 6th on stages for 4th overall and 1st in the first-year junior category.
He was also 10th in the La Philippe Gilbert Juniors (1.1) in Belgium. And in September he enjoyed an excellent Giro di Basilicata (2.1) in Italy.
His 2nd place on the opening stage was followed by winning the mountains and first-year classification and ending the race 3rd overall.
So though he is just 17-years-old he has lots of international experience, in races he has helped animate.
He told stickybottle had had only recently declared for Ireland, having grown up in Britain.
“I’ve declared since getting my citizenship mid May this year,” he said. “My grandparents originate from Waterford and Cork so that’s where my heritage comes from.
“At the end of last season I got talking to (Cycling Ireland coach) Martin O’Loughlin about declaring for Ireland. And my family were really supportive of the move so I came across.”
Though he has very strong results, such is the talent in Britain at present he did not gain international selection. The fact he does not ride on the track ruled him out.
And having made the switch to Ireland he is now national champion, a development he said he was delighted with.
“The race went pretty well,” he said modestly. “To begin I was worried about the heat affecting me with all the TT gear on with it being around 30 degrees.
“The course was a good one; fairly rolling and not too technical. That suited me pretty well.
“Being on junior gears it made the descents just as hard as the uphills. Once I was out there I defiantly could feel the heat. But I don’t think it affected my performance.
“When I was out on course I knew I was on for a good time as I caught my minute man around 12k in. And by the end I had caught everyone who had started ahead of me.
“So when I finished I knew what time I’d set. But I’d no idea what any of the other juniors had done.
“I’d to wait for the podium not knowing where I had finished. When I was called out for first it was really nice surprise.
“And I know some of the guys I was against are competitive internationally. So it was great.”
Ben Healy; remember the name.
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