Sean Kelly reacts to Ben Healy ending Ireland's Tour de France drought - ‘That’s the rider he is’
Updated 10/07/2025 at 18:59 GMT+1
Ben Healy delivered a breakout solo win on Stage 6 of the Tour de France, ending Ireland’s long wait for a stage victory and drawing huge praise from legend Sean Kelly. The 24-year-old surged clear from a high-profile breakaway to catapult up the general classification ranks, while Mathieu van der Poel edged back into yellow as Tadej Pogacar loaned the leader's jersey out to the Dutchman - just.
Stage 6 highlights: Healy escapes to victory as Van der Poel borrows yellow from Pogacar
Video credit: TNT Sports
Legendary rider Sean Kelly hailed a "major victory" after his compatriot Ben Healy ended Ireland's five-year wait for a Tour de France stage win.
Healy (EF Education–EasyPost) pulled off a gutsy 42km solo attack to win Stage 6, escaping from a stacked eight-strong breakaway featuring Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and Giro d'Italia champion Simon Yates (Visma-Lease a Bike).
The 24-year-old also soared up the general classification and now sits eighth overall, 2'01" behind Van der Poel, who reclaimed the yellow jersey from Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) by a single second.
The last Irishman to win at the Tour was Sam Bennett in 2020, when he triumphed on the Champs-Elysees in the green jersey. This, though, was cut from a very different cloth.
Kelly, who won five stages and four green jerseys at the Tour, called Healy home on TNT Sports and discovery+ commentary alongside Rob Hatch.
"Majorly proud. He goes all day, gets into the breakaway, goes from a long way out and gets his stage win. That's the type of rider he is," Kelly said.
"It's been a long time since Sam Bennett won the last one for Ireland, and to win this stage, against the company he was in this breakaway - major victory."
Jubilant scenes erupted in the EF camp at the finish before spilling onto the podium.
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'Whether they allow me...' - Healy jokes about Guinness reward after Tour de France heroics
Video credit: TNT Sports
"It's just unbelievable," said Healy. "It’s what I’ve worked all for - not just this year, but the whole time. Hours and hours of hard work from so many people, so to pay them back is just really amazing.
"Last year was a real eye-opener and made me believe I could do it. It made me knuckle down, do the hard work and refine my racing style, and I think it paid off today.
"I knew I needed to get away from the group and pick my moment - and I think I timed it well and caught them by surprise a little bit. Then it was just head down and do my best ride to the finish.
"Today’s stage suited me down to the ground. This was a stage I circled in the book from the start so to do it at the first attempt is really amazing."
Asked later by TNT Sports if he would be allowed a celebratory pint of Guinness after his heroics, Healy replied with a smile: "Whether they allow me is a different question..."
The win continues a strong season for Healy, who finished third at Liege-Bastogne-Liege in April and claimed top-five finishes at both Strade Bianche and La Fleche Wallonne.
Compatriot Eddie Dunbar (Jayco AlUla), also in the breakaway, told TNT Sports: "I knew he was going to win the stage. That's what he does. He's always done it."
Healy, riding his second Tour de France, also has a Giro d’Italia stage win to his name and now sits just 1'18" off the podium - ahead of former runner-up Primoz Roglic (Red Bull–Bora–Hansgrohe).
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Stream the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes live on TNT Sports and discovery+
Stream the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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