Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) has reflect on his new found profile, even fame, a year on from his big breakthrough ride at Amstel Gold Race, where he finished 2nd behind Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) after an aggressive display.
Now going into the same race tomorrow - where world champion Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin - Deceuninck) will be the main foe - Healy has reflected on his life, and new-found profile - since he first became a famous name in pro cycling just a year ago.
While he is gunning for the Ardennes week now upon us - starting tomorrow and then with La Flèche Wallonne midweek and Liège-Bastogne-Liège tomorrow week - Healy has also spoken to his ambitions for the remainder of the season, including the Tour de France and Olympic Games.
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Still aged just 23 years, he said as the Ardennes courses really suited him, he believed he enjoyed those three races and, as a result, felt he could perform in them again, especially after also placing 4th in Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2023.
"I am super excited," he said of Amstel Gold. "After last year, this race means a lot to me. It is really cool to be back. We were doing our recon, and I was just remembering some of the memories from last year. I am excited to race again. I know I have done the work.
"We had a really great race last week at Pays de la Loire with Marijn (van der Berg, winning overall). This past week, I have just taken it super easy to rest up and get ready for this. Hopefully the legs are going to be there. I think it is going to be a hard race again, but that is something that suits me.
"I worked hard to be in my best shape for these races and made them a big goal this year. Hopefully I can race pretty well over the next week. Then, I’ll focus on making it to the Tour," he said.
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"I have got to get to the start line first. The Tour is the biggest race that there is, so to do my first Tour would be really good. After that there is the Olympics and the worlds as well, but I want to get to the Tour first."
Asked how he had handled his new found status in the sport - which includes being recognised by fans and being in demand with the media - he said he was "still the same person".
"I am still doing the exact same thing. There is maybe a bit more responsibility for me in the team but that is something that I have always wanted. So it hasn’t changed much. I still live the same. I still work the same. Maybe just a few more people know my name now.
"Riding around today, loads of people knew my name and had all these pictures for me to sign and stuff. It is really cool and a bit crazy at the same time," he said, though he added he had not changed his approach to cycling, or life, based on his success over the last year.
"I just do me, you know, nothing too crazy. I am not driving around in a Lamborghini or anything. I just keep doing what I need to do. I like to be outdoors, to be an active person, seeing friends and just doing some more normal things other than just riding my bike.
"I have a dog at home and spend a lot of time outdoors or in cafes with my friends, just mincing about really. I love riding my bike. This is what I like doing. I enjoy working hard. I enjoy progression.
"I enjoy feeling that I am getting better every day and then you just come to the races and it is what it is, you know. If I wasn’t that good, then I think I would do the same. It is just a bonus that I get to race at a pretty high level."
