Ben Healy held tough over the Tour de France’s final Alpine stage to finish eighth on the day and consolidate his ninth spot on the race’s overall ranking.
Stage 19 from Albertville to the summit of La Plagne was shortened to 93.1 Kilometers the night before the race, but was no less brutal with the Col du Pré and Cormet de Roseland on course before the tough climb to the finish.
Ben’s objective was to hang on to the yellow jersey group for as long as he could and hope he still had enough strength in his legs to defend his top-ten spot on G.C. deep into the third week of the race.
After winning stage 6, riding into the race leader’s yellow jersey, and defending it for two stages, Ben wants to see what kind of Tour de France G.C. rider he can become. Today was further proof that he can be a great one.
After hometown hero Alex Baudin went on the attack early and was brought back, Neilson Powless and Harry Sweeny guided Ben over the Col du Pré. Harry did a big turn in the yellow jersey group to help Ben get over the Cormet de Roseland and kept him out of the wind down the descent and into the valley. He led him into the base of La Plagne and then it was up to Ben.
As some of the strongest riders in the race faltered and had to drop back, Ben drove into the cold rain, clawing his way back to the yellow jersey group again, and again, as they attacked. He only had to let the wheel go in the final Kilometers. Then, he pushed his own pace, not letting up until he crossed the line — eighth on the stage and still firmly in the top ten.
The high mountains are now behind us, but this Tour still holds in store two tough tests. Tomorrow’s 20th stage from Nantua to Pontarlier is extremely hilly and promises a big fight for the breakaway. Stage 21 won’t be a parade in Paris either. This year’s circuit goes over Montmartre.
Ben will race to defend his G.C. spot all the way to the Champs-Élysées.
Read their thoughts from the summit of La Plagne.
It was a tough old day out there. Harry did a super job to get over the Col du Pré and the Roseland with me. It was raining hard and then I just suffered, hanging on to Tadej and those guys. Eighth on a mountain stage in the Alps in the third week of the Tour is something we can be proud of. We’re still top ten on G.C. There’s still some good racing yet.
I just time trialled all of the way to the finish. I was in the front group and suffered over the first climb, but got taken off the back by some guys on the descent before the Roseland. Five guys in front of me just let the wheel go. Props to them. They chased for the next 50k. It felt like it was just a time trial out there for such a short stage.
It was cool. I just got carried away with all my friends and couldn’t feel my legs and after I completely exploded. I didn’t have the legs today, but I really enjoyed that short moment in the front with all of my friends. It was fun. It was super cool to race on my home roads. I just wish I had better legs to be an actor in the race. I will come back.