Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) put in the performance of his career, so far, taking 2nd place at Amstel Gold Race yesterday. He was only beaten to victory by the best rider in the world at present, Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates).
Pogačar was leading Healy solo in the finale, having dropped the Irishman and Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers) on the Keutenberg climb with 28km remaining. But when Healy dropped Pidcock and set off in pursuit of the leader on his own, the Irishman began eating into Pogačar's lead.
It was clear the Slovenian was informed of this and began upping his effort, ensuring he would hold off Healy. But for sections of that part of the race, it looked like an official race vehicle was much too close to Pogačar. At one point with 10km to go, Pogačar was right behind the vehicle - through no fault of his own - and gaining some drafting advantage.
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One man who voiced his displeasure at just how close the car was to Pogačar was Ben Healy's team principal at EF Education-EasyPost, Jonathan Vaughters.
He shared a short clip (above) of Pogačar behind the car and also made some comments on Twitter, including: "Quality work by (Amstel Gold Race) organisers… motor-paced (Derny) racing on the track is always the most exciting. So, guess they are bringing it to the road now."
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He then posted a second message with the clip of the car and Pogačar behind it, saying: "I mean. COME ON."
Vaughters didn't totally lose the cool and was also able to see the funny side when one Twitter user shared a still from the TV coverage with the car right in front of Pogačar commenting: "Amstel is also available on draft."
Later Vaughters said while the result of the race may not have been any different, it was frustrating to see vehicles getting too close to the riders. That is, of course, a situation the riders cannot do anything about, save to sit up and wave the driver on, which no expects them to do.
"I should say something a bit more productive and mature here," Vaughters said. "The issue is, we see vehicles changing the race results all the time. Sometimes in our favor, sometimes not. It just gets tiresome. Pog prob would have won in sprint; NOT the point. It just denigrates the racing."
He also said it was an "incredible ride" by Healy, adding: "Great to watch the progression of a young fellow with a big heart. And lots of hair."
After the race, Healy's sports directors Matti Breschel and Tom Southam were clearly delighted with the performance of the 22-year-old Irishman, who has already won a stage of Coppi e Bartali this year as well as winning GP Industria & Artigianato.
“It was a breakthrough on the big scene - the very big scene,” Breschel said of Healy. “He was up against really good riders and finishing it off with a podium is something he can be proud of.”
Southam echoed this views, saying: “Ben started his season with a pretty low level program. Moving up, he stepped up, level after level. I think the level that he is at now is really extremely high and gives us a lot of hope for the next two months.”
