'This is just a fairytale': Ireland's brilliant Ben Healy takes yellow jersey at Tour de France

LAST UPDATE | 16 hrs ago

BEN HEALY HAS written his name into the Irish cycling history books with a magnificent ride to move into the overall race lead at the Tour de France.

Healy will wear the leader’s fabled yellow jersey — becoming the first Irishman to hold the honour since Stephen Roche won the race in 1987.

The 24-year-old started Monday’s Bastille Day stage 3:55 behind three-time champion Tadej Pogacar in the general classification standings, but finished the 165.3 km ride from Ennezat to Le Mont-Dore Puy de Sancy 4:20 ahead of the Slovenian star.

Healy, who already made his mark on this year’s tour in winning Thursday’s sixth stage, was firmly in contention for a second stage right until the final kilometres.

In the end, Simon Yates pulled clear to win the stage with Thymen Arensman in second and a battling Healy 31 seconds back in third.

“This is just a fairytale, a dream come true,” Healy said after the 165.3 km ride from Ennezat to Le Mont-Dore Puy de Sancy.

“Had you told me before the Tour de France that I was going to be here, in the yellow jersey after winning a stage earlier on, I wouldn’t have believed it.”

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Healy was quick to pay tribute to his EF Education-EasyPost team-mates who helped him to grow his advantage at the head of the Bastille Day breakaway.

“It wasn’t exactly the plan. We were surprised that UAE Team Emirates let such a big break up the road, and we took advantage of it by putting four riders in there.

“I have to say a big thank you to my teammates Neilson Powless, Alex Baudin and Harry Sweeny because, without them, getting the yellow jersey would have been impossible.

At some point, the stage became a fight against myself. I know I was taking some risks by digging so deep for so long but how often does an opportunity like this come around?

“It was pretty nerve-wracking to wait for four minutes in order to find out whether I was in yellow or not. Had Tadej [Pogacar] raced all the way to the top of the final climb, I might have a different jersey now.”

Healy, who also holds the white jersey for best young rider, won Monday’s combativity award after continuing to push the pace at the front of the breakaway.

“I’m super proud to represent Ireland. This success is still sinking in, and I’m pretty emotional.

“From now on, I will turn my focus towards the GC in order to respect the Yellow Jersey and try to keep it for as long as possible.”

Healy now leads the general classification standings by 29 seconds from Pogacar, with Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel in third, 1:29 behind Healy.

He becomes the fourth Irish rider to wear Tour de France yellow, following Shay Elliott, Sean Kelly and Roche.

Written by Niall Kelly and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won’t find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women’s sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here.