Ben Healy has been named on the EF-Education-EasyPost team for the Tour de France, which will be the Irish rider's debut appearance in the world's biggest bike race.
Though the former Irish champion, and recent Tour of Slovenia (2.Pro) stage winner, had already been spoken of as a very likely Tour starter, confirmation he will definitely be on the start line is huge news for the 23-year-old.
His being named for the Tour also comes on the same day as Sam Bennett was confirmed by Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale for the race, meaning Ireland's best two chances of a stage win are both getting their shot.
Though the Tour is always a great spectacle, the presence of riders like Bennett and Healy significantly raises the level of interest, and excitement, from an Irish perspective. While Bennett will target the sprints, Healy will get the freedom to go on the attack.
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Healy's team boss, Jonathan Vaughters, said last month the team had considered sending him to the Giro d'Italia again this year, possible for a tilt at the general classification. However, he added that Healy wanted to aim to win races and both he and the team felt a Tour debut, with the goal of winning a stage, was a better move.
Healy won a stage of Giro d'Italia last year with a characteristically aggressive ride - on the hilly stage 8 into Fossombrone. And he went close to doubling up on stage 15 into Bergamo, finishing 2nd behind fellow breakaway man Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates).
Healy is named in the EF Education-EasyPost team for the Tour as part of a very capable line-up that could target stages on multiple terrain types. Richard Carapaz, a former Giro winner and 3rd placed overall in the Tour three years ago, is the team's best general classification hope.
Also in the team is new Italian champion Alberto Bettiol, American Neilson Powless, Dutch sprinter Marijn van den Berg, Portugal's former world champion Rui Costa, new US champion Sean Quinn and Swiss TT specialist Stefan Bissegger.
