Irish Cyclist **Ben Healy** Victorious in Tour de France Stage 6
**Healy** Secures First Stage Win, Joins Elite Group of Irish Cyclists
In a display of skill and determination, **Ben Healy** achieved a significant milestone, securing his first stage win in the Tour de France. His courageous solo victory in Stage 6 has cemented his place among the cycling elite.
Solo Breakaway Triumphs
**Ben Healy**, representing EF Education–EasyPost, showcased his breakaway expertise on the 201km stage from Bayeux to Vire Normandie. After multiple attempts, **Healy** finally broke away, ultimately winning by an impressive two minutes and 44 seconds. This victory makes him only the seventh Irish rider to ever win a stage in the Tour de France.
The last time an Irish cyclist won a stage was when **Sam Bennett** won the final stage on the Champs-Élysées in Paris in 2020.
General Classification Impact
**Healy**’s performance propelled him up the General Classification standings. He now holds eighth place overall, trailing race leader **Mathieu van der Poel** by 2′01″.
**Eddie Dunbar**, another Irish cyclist, also featured in the breakaway, finishing fourth and moving up to 29th in the GC.
**Healy**’s Reaction
**Healy** expressed his joy after the race:
“It’s just unbelievable, really what I’ve worked for, not just this year the whole time. It’s really incredible, hours and hours of hard work from some many people, and to pay them back today is really, really amazing.”
—Ben Healy, Professional Cyclist
In 2023, **Healy** also secured a solo breakaway stage in the Giro d’Italia.
Previous Achievements
Last year, during his Tour debut, **Healy** achieved fifth place on stage nine and earned the combativity award on stage 14, ultimately finishing 27th overall. Earlier this year, he placed third in Liège–Bastogne–Liège. These achievements demonstrate **Healy**’s growing potential in the sport. The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) notes that the average age of UCI World Tour stage race winners is 27.7, suggesting **Healy**’s age of 24 positions him well for continued success (UCI, 2023).
Insights on Success
**Healy** reflected on his progress:
“I think last year was a real eye-opener, really made me believe I could do it. I just knuckled down and did the hard work, tried to refine my racing style as well, lots of race footage watched, and it really paid off today I think.
He also added:
“I just switched on from the start, maybe spent a bit too much trying to get into the break, but that’s just the way I do it. Once I was in there, we really had to work for that gap, and it was just on the pedals all day. I knew that I needed to get away from the group, pick my moment, and I think I timed it well, maybe caught them by surprise a little bit.
He concluded:
“Then I knew what I had to do, just head down and do my best ride to the finish. This was a stage I circled from the start, suited me down to the ground, and to do it on the first one is really, really amazing.”
Irish Cycling History
**Healy** now joins a distinguished list of Irish Tour de France stage winners, including **Shay Elliott**, **Seán Kelly**, **Stephen Roche**, **Martin Earley**, **Dan Martin**, and **Bennett**.
Early Career
In 2020, **Healy** won the last stage of the Ronde de l’Isard, coinciding with **Bennett**’s Tour de France stage win. He also became the youngest winner of a stage of the Tour de l’Avenir in 2019.
Background
Born in Stourbridge, **Healy** began representing Ireland in cycling in 2018, securing the Irish junior time-trial title. **Martin O’Loughlin** of Cycling Ireland played a significant role in his decision to represent Ireland, similar to his influence on **Bennett**’s early career.