Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) has once again gone on the attack, in very difficult conditions, at Tirreno Adriatico, looking to get clear and gain the time that would enhance his general classification challenge.
Racing in cold and wet conditions again today, into Trasacco, it was Healy and Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) who took up the fight on the front in the final 5km, attacking in the hopes of breaking clear.
As Healy was just beginning to press his way clear, and catch the day's main breakaway, Van der Poel went across to him with a very strong move that clearly caused a lot of nervousness in what remained of the peloton.
Race leader Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers) went on the front and impressively closed down Van der Poel, who had been surging clear. And when that effort was brought back, Healy went again.
Advertisement
This time he caught the last of the breakaway men, going to the front of that group and trying to press home their modest advantage of between five and 10 seconds.
Related News
? Heartbreaking for some, but joy and relief for the winner of an incredible stage
⏪ The @continentaltire Ultimo Kilometro ⤵️#TirrenoAdriatico @CA_Ita pic.twitter.com/0QAmCoim97
— Tirreno Adriatico (@TirrenAdriatico) March 13, 2025
However, the sprinters who had managed to get back to the bunch after the early climbs still had team mates in the main field. And the jockeying around for position at the front saw the pace ramped up and the Healy group caught deep inside the final 1km.
It was then left to the fast men to do their thing, with Olav Kooij (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) appearing to come from nowhere to claim the win from Rick Pluimers (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) and Van der Poel.
Healy and Eddie Dunbar (Team Jayco AlUla) both finished in the reduced bunch and have retained their general classification positions behind race leader Ganna.
Dunbar is 7th, some 44 seconds down with three stages remaining, while Healy is in 9th at 48 seconds after what has been a very hard couple of days of racing.
Sam Bennett (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) was among the sprinters who lost contact with the bunch on the early climbs and faced a long day riding to the finish to ensure they made the time cut.
More to come.
