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#BenHealy #YellowJersey #TourDeFrance #CyclingChampion #StephenRoche #IrishCycling #StageWin #AggressiveRiding #CyclingHero #EFEducationEasyPost #PodiumMoment #CyclingLegends #MaillotJaune #MassifCentral #HardGrafte
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Stephen Roche, the legendary Irish cyclist who won the Tour de France in 1987, has expressed his admiration for Ben Healy’s recent performances in this year’s Tour de France, describing the 24-year-old EF Education-EasyPost rider as “mesmerising” and “extraordinary.” Healy’s aggressive and dominant displays on stages 6 and 10, where he secured a stage win and took the coveted yellow jersey, left Roche “blown away.”
Roche, who knows firsthand the immense challenge of wearing the yellow jersey, praised Healy’s ability to execute his race plan flawlessly despite the immense physical and mental demands of the Tour. “There’s no beating around the bush, no luck involved here. It was sheer sweat, tears and blood. He did everything perfectly,” Roche said. He emphasized that Healy’s success was not just about following race advice but also about having the strength and determination to make it happen.
Stage 10, a grueling 165km race through the Massif Central to Le Mont-Dore Puy de Sancy, was particularly demanding, with no easy moments for the peloton. Roche highlighted Healy’s remarkable recovery over the first 10 stages of the Tour, noting that even the flat stages, with their constant nervousness and road furniture, take a significant toll on riders. Despite this, Healy has shown incredible resilience and stamina.
In recent years, Roche admitted he had concerns about Healy’s approach, fearing that his aggressive style might lead to missed opportunities. However, he now sees a more mature and strategic rider who channels his aggression effectively to achieve major results. “He’s a champion, an extraordinary rider,” Roche said, adding that Healy’s ability to lead the group on stage 10, especially as a young rider, was “really, really unbelievable.”
Roche reflected on the long wait for another Irishman to wear the yellow jersey since his own victory in 1987. “We’ve had a lot of very good riders who have come and gone since then who haven’t done it,” he said. “But, nevertheless, it’s great that someone else has finally come along and done it.” He acknowledged that this achievement will change Healy’s life forever, regardless of how long he retains the yellow jersey. “People will see him differently now,” Roche said.
The French media has already begun speculating about Healy’s potential as a general classification contender, a testament to his impressive performances. Roche expressed his excitement for Healy’s future, describing him as a “hard, hard grafter” and a rider who knows what he wants. “I’m really excited for the guy,” Roche concluded, clearly inspired by Healy’s determination and success on the biggest stage in cycling.
