'Absolutely mental' - Black Country cycling star Ben Healy caps off Tour de France with Paris podium appearance
Ben Healy admitted he was looking forward to a well-earned rest after his “absolutely mental” Tour de France ended on the podium in Paris.
The 24-year-old, who became the first cyclist from the Black Country to ever win a stage of the Tour and then wear the yellow jersey, claimed the super combativity award after being voted the most aggressive rider of the three-week race.
It meant Healy was a big part of the celebrations as the Tour concluded on the Champs Elysees on Sunday, with the former Halesowen Cycling Club star also finishing an impressive ninth in the overall standings.
“This Tour de France was a dream come true,” he said. “Winning a stage, wearing the yellow jersey – you can’t ask for too much more than that.
“I guess what I have learned at this Tour is just to stick to what I know and keep doing what I know works. This Tour de France has been a big confirmation for me that sometimes it’s a slow process, but I will always get there in the end.”
Healy won the sixth stage to Vire Normandie in the opening week and then went into the overall lead after an heroic ride through the Massif Central mountains on stage 10.
His proud parents, Bryan and Lisa, travelled over from their Wordsley home to watch him race in the famous yellow jersey and though the eventual winner, Tadej Pogacar, grasped control of the Tour when it entered the Pyrenees, Healy remained prominent, coming close to taking victory on the iconic Mont Ventoux in the final week.
Healy, who rides for Ireland, has been headline news in the Emerald Isle.
Asked about the reaction to his success, he said: “I must say, I’ve been trying to keep my eyes closed to it a bit because it is just so overwhelming when you start looking at all this stuff.
“But it’s hard to block it all out, there’s been that much. I’ve seen a lot of nice things and it’s pretty special; you race a bike and it means something to people.
“It’s been absolutely mental to be honest. It’s been a whirlwind three weeks and I’m pretty fried now, I’m looking forward to some rest.
“I’ll reassess after that. I think the Worlds is a nice course for me but I’m not looking too far into the future right now.”
