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Ben Healy, the rising star of EF Education-EasyPost, has been tipped by team boss Jonathan Vaughters for a potential stage win at the 2024 Tour de France. Despite the intense heat of July in France, which isn’t Healy’s preferred racing condition, Vaughters has revealed that the Irish rider has been diligently preparing to adapt to the challenging weather. Healy, who has consistently exceeded expectations since turning professional, is seen as one of the few non-general classification (GC) riders capable of winning a high mountain stage in the modern era of the Tour.
Healy’s journey to this point has been marked by impressive performances, often outshining former U23 teammate Tom Pidcock, whom he once supported at Trinity Racing. Vaughters highlighted Healy’s potential, stating, “Ben is the one rider we have who could win a high mountain stage.” He acknowledged that while Healy “doesn’t necessarily like the heat,” he has done significant work to acclimate and could follow in the footsteps of Richard Carapaz, who was ruled out of this year’s Tour due to illness.
Earlier in the season, Healy’s attempts to compete for GC positions at Tirreno Adriatico and Itzulia Basque Country didn’t go as planned. However, he bounced back with strong performances, including a stage win in the Basque Country. Vaughters noted Healy’s occasional inconsistency, suggesting that his success at the Tour would depend on which version of the rider shows up. “It will depend which version of Ben we see,” Vaughters said, emphasizing the competitive nature of the race.
Despite this, Vaughters remains optimistic about Healy’s chances on specific stages, particularly medium and high mountain stages. “Ben’s going to need to go for medium mountain stages at least. High mountain stages are going to be the stages that he can contest,” he explained. Vaughters pointed to Healy’s dramatic turnaround at the Tour of the Basque Country as evidence of his potential. “Ben went from losing 20 minutes on stage two of the Tour of the Basque Country to being the strongest rider in the race by the last day of the race,” he said.
Healy’s ability to learn from experienced riders like Carapaz could also play a crucial role in his performance at the Tour. Vaughters believes that Healy has absorbed valuable lessons from Carapaz, which might help him achieve similar success. “Ben learned a lot from Richie last year. Maybe he’ll do something similar,” Vaughters added, referencing Carapaz’s lone mountain stage win in the previous Tour by a non-GC contender.
In summary, Ben Healy’s potential for a stage win at the Tour de France hinges on his ability to overcome the heat and deliver a consistent performance. With Vaughters’ backing and the lessons learned from Carapaz, Healy is positioned as a strong contender for a high mountain stage victory, showcasing his growing prowess in the professional peloton.
