Brilliant Ben Healy makes more history by taking yellow at the Tour de France

The 24-year-old from Wordsley, who last week became the first Black Country cyclist to win a stage of the world’s toughest bike race, is now the first from the region to wear the iconic leader’s yellow jersey.

Healy finished third on Monday’s brutal 102-mile tenth stage through the Massif Central, which was enough to wrestle the race lead from three-time champion Tadej Pogacar.

“It was insanely tough,” said Healy. “It was a battle against myself. I just had to dig deep.

“My team-mates put in so much work for me today and I just wanted to pay them back. I am so happy I was able to do that in the end.”

Healy began the day nearly four minutes behind Pogacar on general classification and taking the jersey was not initially in his thoughts, even when he became part of a 29-man breakaway which went clear early in the stage.

But as the gap from the break to the main bunch grew, so too did the chances of making more history.

Healy went on the front foot in the final 30 miles and though visibly exhausted come the final climb, as Britain's Simon Yates rode clear to take the stage victory, he was able to maintain enough of his advantage over Pogacar to take yellow by 29 seconds.

“It was a risk and I gambled a bit because I had the stage win already in the bank,” said Healy.

“But how often do you get the chance to put yourself in yellow? I thought I had to grab that with both hands and really go for it.”

Healy’s win will also be celebrated in Ireland, for whom he has ridden throughout his professional career. 

He is the first Irish rider since Stephen Roche in 1987 to wear yellow and will do so for the first time during Wednesday’s stage through the Pyrenees.