Ben Healy has shaken off the effects of his bad crash at Liège-Bastogne-Liège on Sunday with a strong ride today in the opening TT at Tour of Romandie. The EF Education-EasyPost rider finished today's 5.12km prologue TT in Lausanne in 21st position.
Healy (21) finished the test 20 seconds down on stage winner Ethan Hayter (Ineos Grenadiers). Hayter went around the course in a time of 5:52, for an average speed of 52.364km per hour.
Hayter took victory from his team mate of last year, and former two-time TT world champion, Rohan Dennis; the Jumbo Visma man four seconds off the British champion's winning time. Felix Großschartner (Bora-hansgrohe) was 3rd at 10 seconds, on the same time as defending champion Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers).
Eddie Dunbar (Ineos Grenadiers) had provisionally been earmarked to start the race, though his appearance was never confirmed by his team and he was not among the starters today.
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In his absence, Healy is the only Irish rider in the race and his performance today, in his first TT at World Tour level, is another sign that he has seamlessly taken to the much higher level of racing this year having moved up from Continental team Trinity Racing last winter.
Healy was one of the fallers in the crash on Sunday's Liège-Bastogne-Liège that occurred in the peloton with just over 60km to go. The Irish rider's saddle and seatpost were taken off his bike in the crash. And while he got a spare bike and remounted, he did not finish.
Tomorrow's 178km stage 1 takes the riders from La Grande Beroche to Romont and features very undulating terrain, though the climbs are frequent rather than large. There are four cat 3 climbs in total and it is a stage that could suit Healy, though his team has Rigoberto Urán as a GC contender this week.
More to come.
