Healy | "It's hard for young Irish riders to find a pathway. I hope I can reignite Irish success"

Ben Healy waves to the crowd in Toulouse just before the start of stage 11 when he began his defence of the most famous yellow jersey in cycling (Photo: Charly Lopez)

Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) has stepped out in the yellow jersey of Tour de France leader for the first time in Toulouse this morning. He's opted for the yellow shorts option, to match his jersey, and also has an all-yellow Cannondale LAB71 SuperSix EVO.

Healy said it was "pretty cool" to think he was the first Irish rider since Stephen Roche in 1987 to wear the Tour leader's jersey and he really hoped it could positively impact Irish cycling.

"I just hope I can re-ignite the success that Ireland's had in the past in cycling," he said.

"There's so many young, strong riders coming through. It's just super hard to find a pathway through Ireland, you know. So I hope I can reignite some of that and really show the talent we have."

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He also said though wearing the yellow jersey came with some nerves and extra stress, he was trying to take it all in.

"It's not often you get to wear the yellow jersey so I'm just embracing it all. I'm really trying to soak it up, it's an incredible dream come true," Healy said just before the start of the resumption of racing after yesterday's rest day.

Though today's stage features a lumpy final that would normally be suited to Healy, the 156.8km race, starting and finishing in Toulouse, will see him focus exclusively on the race lead.

"It's all about trying to keep this yellow jersey now I think," he said. "I've got the team to do that today, and a final that suits me quite well. I just need to follow Tadej and Remco and hopefully all will be well".

Healy took the lead on Monday, with an heroic breakaway ride, from Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) and he now leads the defending champion by 29 seconds in the general classification. Olympic road race and TT champion, Remco Evenepoel (Soudal QuickStep), is 3rd at 1:29.

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