Ben Healy's early season plans were put on hold when he was among the fallers on a crash-marred stage 2 at Etoile de Bessèges seven weeks ago. And while he finished that stage - which was neutralised after ambulances were diverted to treat injured riders - he did not start the following day.
The 22-year-old EF Education-EasyPost rider was at the time diagnosed with a broken finger, which had kept him out of the peloton until now. However, he returned to action today in Italy. He put in a performance suggesting he has managed to retain the kind of form that delivered him a podium result at Trofeo Calvia (1.1) on the first day of the season.
Healy finished in the much depleted peloton on the opening stage of Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali (2.1). The main field was whittled down to just 36 riders, with the next group over a minute back. Healy was in that reduced bunch, some 32 seconds down on solo winner Rémi Cavagna (Soudal-Quick Step).
Advertisement
The French rider attacked with almost 40km remaining on the 161.8km stage starting and finishing in Riccione. He ride away solo as the peloton was about to tackle the Montescudo climb - some 6.6km at 3.7 per cent - for the second time. The French rider then caught and dropped the early breakaway, riding solo in TT mode to the finish.
Related News
While his lead grew over 1:30 at one point, the remains of the peloton got more organised and brought that gap back to 32 seconds on the line. After Cavanga took victory, his team mate Mauro Schmid - the winner of the opening stage last year, ahead of Ireland's Eddie Dunbar - took the sprint for 2rd place. Rick Pluimers (Tudor Pro Cycling) was 3rd.
Healy finished in 23rd, in the group 32 seconds down on the winner. That was a more than solid ride by Healy, especially as the stage featured two passages of the Mondaino climb - 3.4km at 7.6 per cent - and two passages of the Montescudo, which split the field.
Tomorrow's stage 2 is a lumpy 172.5km from Riccione to Longiano. Most of the race is over five laps of a circuit with a cat 3 climb followed by a near 1km incline to the finish, which could suit Healy.
