Ben Healy takes World Championship bronze in Rwanda
West Midlands cycling star Ben Healy took bronze in the men’s elite road race at the UCI World Championships in Kigali, Rwanda, as the imperious Tadej Pogacar retained the rainbow jersey with a superb solo ride.
Tour de France winner Pogacar went clear with Isaac Del Toro with more than 100 kilometres of the punishing 267.5km race to go and then left behind the Mexican to go alone with 67 kilometres remaining.
His advantage of around a minute held over a chasing pack that had included Healy, Great Britain’s Tom Pidcock, Remco Evenepoel and Mattias Skjelmose.
While Pidcock faded, only two weeks after his third place at the Vuelta a Espana, Evenepoel attacked with 20km left on his way to second place, while Healy left behind Skjelmose over five kilometres from the finish to secure bronze.
Healy hails from Wordsley and rode for Halesowen Athletics and Cycling Club, but represents Ireland through his paternal grandfather after not being taken on by British Cycling earlier in his career.
It has been a breakout year for the 25-year-old, who became the first from the Black Country to not just win a stage at the Tour de France earlier this year, but also the first to don its iconic yellow jersey.
