Ben Healy made his first trip to the podium at the Tour de France, in Saint-Lary-Soulan Pla d’Adet, after the Tourmalet stage on Saturday. And though it wasn't to celebrate a stage win, the Irish rider had put in an epic performance.
Healy, who claimed his first Grand Tour stage win on debut at the Giro d'Italia last year, got into the breakaway on Saturday as the Tourmalet began on stage 13. And as that large escape group was whittled down up that climb, and over the Hourquette d’Ancizan, the Irishman was still present and waiting for his chance.
When the leaders reached the final climb of Pla d’Adet, Healy and just other other breakaway man, David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ), pressed clear. And with about 10km remaining, Healy went solo.
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He then battled hard on his own for the next 5km before the UAE Team Emirates duo of Aam Yates and yellow jersey Tadej Pogačar caught him, with about 4.5km to go.
Yates had attacked the select group with about 7km to go to the finish, with Pogačar then joining him having dropped general classification rivals Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep).
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?? @_BHealyyy and ?? @DavidGaudu attack off the front of the breakaway, and then Healy attacks Gaudu ???
?? @_BHealyyy et ?? @DavidGaudu attaquent en tête de l'échappée, puis Healy attaque Gaudu ?????.#TDF2024 pic.twitter.com/50XfRtoDev
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 13, 2024
Healy faded out of contention once he was caught - and also took time to savour the crowds once the shot at a stage win was gone. He finished the stage in 16th at 3:27. He was awarded the combativity prize for his efforts; no surprise considering his aggression and the fact he was last man standing from the breakaway.
"We took our best shot. That’s what we have to do, take the opportunities when we get them," Healy said at the finish, where he remained 14th overall in his debut Tour de France.
"My teammates did a great job today for me. They took me into the break. For sure it was still a big effort to get there. I had good legs today. They did a great job once I was in the break as well.
"We tried to make it stick to the line but UAE had other plans.After Yates and Pogačar came past, I took it a little bit easier up to the top and got to enjoy the crowds.
"I think as a team, we’re racing really, really well together and unfortunately it hasn’t quite gone our way yet, but I’m sure if we keep racing like this, then eventually it will roll our way."
