Ben Healy produced a stunning solo breakaway to win Stage 6 of the Tour de France today, becoming only the seventh Irishman in history to claim a stage victory in the world’s most prestigious cycling race.
The 24-year-old rider from the EF Education–EasyPost team attacked with 42 kilometres remaining on the 201.5km route from Bayeux to Vire Normandie, maintaining a relentless pace over rolling terrain to cross the line two minutes and 14 seconds ahead of American Quinn Simmons.
It was a solo effort that stunned the peloton and captured the imagination of cycling fans worldwide.
Healy now joins a list of Irish stage winners at the Tour de France, alongside Shay Elliott, Sean Kelly, Stephen Roche, Martin Earley, Dan Martin, and most recently Sam Bennett in 2020.
In doing so, he also helped deliver a rare double for Irish cycling on the day, with teammate Eddie Dunbar leading over a key climb in tandem, mirroring a feat last achieved by legends Kelly and Roche on the Col d’Aubisque in 1985.
Healy’s breakthrough moment on cycling’s grandest stage adds to an already impressive cycling resumé that includes a solo Giro d’Italia stage win in 2023 and multiple Irish national titles.
“This is what I’ve worked so hard for,” Healy said at the finish, visibly emotional after his career-defining victory.
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