By Shane Stokes
Ben Healy’s storming performances in recent weeks heightened speculation that he could be called up to his team’s Tour de France squad, with TV commentators amongst those who wondered out loud if he could end up racing in the sport’s biggest event in July.
However, his EF Education-EasyPost team explained to stickybottle why it has resisted the temptation to put its new star in the French race, even if he could conceivably take a stage victory there.
Healy’s dazzling form saw him take second in Brabantse Pijl, second in the Amstel Gold Race and then fourth in last Sunday week's Liège-Bastogne-Liège. That built upon earlier strong performances such as a stage win plus third overall in the Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali and a solo victory in the GP Industria & Artigianato.
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He has been one of the breakthrough riders this season and currently has the most world ranking points of his EF Education-EasyPost team. Notwithstanding that, directeur sportif Tom Southam told stickybottle why the Giro rather than the Tour was preferable.
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“It is obviously great Ben is going so well,” he said. “We are all delighted with his performances in the Ardennes. With that being said, there (were no plans) to change his programme to go to the Tour de France.
“His form is obviously really good at the moment. So he could expect really excellent condition (at the Giro), which was the plan since the start of the year. Obviously we are dealing with a super-high quality rider and he is in great shape right now. So it made sense to keep him in the game.”
Healy is only 22 years of age and in his second year as a pro rider. He has never ridden a Grand Tour and teams typically prefer that young riders compete in the Giro d’Italia or Vuelta a España before attempting the Tour. It is the sport’s most high pressure event.
He has stormed up the world rankings as a result of his recent performances. He started the year 392nd, but is now up to 26th. His haul has helped EF Education-EasyPost to climb to seventh in the world rankings, and further strong performances in the Giro could consolidate or improve that position.
Stage wins in the Tour are a very realistic goal for Healy, but not just yet.
