Ben Healy's Low-Key Start: A Tale of Expectations and Growth
In the world of cycling, every season brings new challenges and opportunities. For Ben Healy, a seasoned World Tour rider with EF Education-EasyPost, the beginning of this cycling year has been a quiet one, but it's a start that holds its own story.
Healy, alongside his compatriot and teammate Darren Rafferty, kicked off his fifth season as a World Tour rider with a pair of competitive races in France. While he may not have dominated the finals, Healy's performance aligned with his expectations, and he expressed contentment with his results, especially considering his usual struggle with the season's first race.
"To be honest, I expected a tough start. I've always found the first race challenging, but this time, I felt I delivered a solid performance," Healy shared, reflecting on his 20th-place finish at the Faun-Ardèche Classic. "I'm kinda happy with how it went."
But here's where it gets interesting: the Faun-Ardèche Classic was no ordinary race. With a staggering 3,400 meters of elevation gain, it shattered the field, and Paul Seixas of the Decathlon CMA CGM Team emerged victorious, claiming his second win of the season in impressive solo fashion.
Seixas, a rising French star, left a three-man chasing group in his wake, including Jan Christen of UAE Team Emirates XRG, Lenny Martinez of Bahrain-Victorious, and Matteo Jorgenson of Visma | Lease a Bike. Healy, finishing 20th, was just over five minutes behind, while Rafferty, dedicated to supporting Healy as the team leader, didn't finish once his duties were complete.
The following day, the trio of Irish riders returned to action at the Faun Drome Classic, a 185-kilometer race. Healy finished 44th, only 1:07 behind race winner Romain Grégoire of Groupama-FDJ United. Grégoire's victory came down to a decisive final kick, showcasing his prowess on the 1-kilometer climb to the finish line.
And this is the part most people miss: Healy's performance wasn't just about the results. It's about the journey and the growth. He acknowledged that it typically takes him a few race days to fully immerse himself in the competitive mindset. Last year, he finished 103rd and 30th at these same events, but then went on to place an impressive 4th at Strade Bianche, igniting an incredible run of success in 2025.
So, as Healy gears up for another Strade Bianche next Saturday, he'll have a clearer gauge of his form in the early weeks of this road racing campaign. Rafferty, too, will be back in action at the Trofeo Laigueglia in Italy on Wednesday.
What do you think? Is Healy's low-key start a sign of things to come, or is he building towards something bigger? Share your thoughts in the comments; we'd love to hear your take on this intriguing cycling narrative!
