Ben Healy rips it up for huge win in Pyrenees, Archie Ryan also shines | Sticky Bottle

Ben Healy was nearly two minutes up on his own after a big stage in the Pyrenees at Ronde de l'Isard while Irish teenager Archie Ryan demonstrated his international-standard class on the climbs for 8th overall in the four-day five-stage race

Ben Healy has taken a stage victory over high mountains in France in one of the biggest U23 races in the world; Ronde de l'Isard.

The Trinity Racing rider was way out in front solo at the end of today's 156km stage 4 from Betchat to Saint-Girons after a hard day of big climbs in the Pyrenees.

While Healy was out front doing a fantastic ride, Archie Ryan was a just a little further back wrapping up a great general classification result.

The 18-year-old first-year U23 rider claimed 7th on the stage and 8th overall; a fantastic performance from the Jumbo Visma Development Team teenager and a really strong indication of his international class.

*Archie Ryan, left in yellow, is in his first year at U23 level and in a huge race that tackled high mountains repeatedly the Irish 18-year-old really came into his own*

Healy, who is riding for Andrew McQuaid's Trinity Racing team this year, won a stage in the Tour de l'Avenir last season and today's victory is in the same league.

While Ronde de l'Isard is not as well known as Tour de l'Avenir and the Baby Giro, it is one of the most prestigious and hardest U23 races on the international calendar and Healy's and Ryan's performances at this level are very impressive.

Today's stage 4, the last day of the race, took the riders up three cat 1 mountains; Col de Latrape (1,113m), Col d’Agnes (1,547m) and Col de Peguere (1,368m).

After the riders crested that last climb they faced another small uncategorised ramp immediately before plummeting down the descent for about 25km into the finish.

Lara Gillespie attacks Dolomite stage as Giro hits high mountains — *Ben Healy takes the win today; a brilliant ride by the 20-year-old Trinity Racing rider*

Video - Italy's hero Balsamo mobbed mid-stage during Giro TT — *Ben Healy takes the win today; a brilliant ride by the 20-year-old Trinity Racing rider*

After four hours of racing Healy finished solo by a huge 1:46 ahead of a group of four, with French rider Alan Boileau (VC Pays de Loudeac) in 2nd place.

He was followed by compatriot Valentin Paret-Peintre (Chambery Cyclisme Competition), Belgian rider Henri Vandenabeele (Lotto-Soudal U23) and another Frenchman, Thomas Champion (Bourg-en-Bresse Ain Cyclisme).

Kiwi rider Finn Fisher-Black (Jumbo-Visma Development Team) was next, finishing on his own in 6th place at 1:57. His team mate, Irish rider Archie Ryan, was next as he led in a small group four seconds later, some 2:01 down on winner Healy on a day when the field was strewn 28 minutes back the road.

Healy, who turned 20-years-old just last week, was 2nd on the opening stage on Thursday from a four-man breakaway. Friday was a split stage with the morning road race just 79.5km but tackling both the Port de Bales and Hospice de France, with the finish at the top of that second climb.

*Archie Ryan, second from left, rides with the select group as the road goes up in France. He's in his first year with the Jumbo Visma Development Team*

Ryan showed his prowess as a climber by putting in a brilliant ride to take 7th place some 56 seconds down on winner Henri Vandenabeele (Lotto-Soudal U23), which moved the Irishman up to 11th place overall despite missing a key split on stage 1.

Friday afternoon's stage was a 16km team TT in Bagnères-de-Luchon won by Team Sunweb's development team by two seconds from Ryan's Jumbo Visma development team. Healy's Trinity Racing was 6th at 40 seconds.

Yesterday's fourth stage was another one in the mountains; some 140km with a summit finish on Ax-3 Domaines. Ireland's Archie Ryan was 23rd some 3:35 down on winner Valentin Paret-Peintre (Chambery Cyclisme Competition) before today's final stage won by Healy with Ryan 7th.

The overall was won by Xandres Vervloesem (Lotto-Soudal U23). Archie Ryan was 8th at 3:35 and Healy finished in 21st and 13 minutes.