It might already feel like a foregone conclusion with Tadej Pogačar looking on track to win his fourth Tour de France, but the script was spectacularly torn up and scattered all over the Massif Central in the first week of the race. Having scored a dream solo win on stage six, Ben Healy took advantage of the time he gained – 2:44 ahead of the chasers – to ride himself into yellow four days later on Bastille Day. The 24-year-old became only the fourth Irish rider to lead the Tour de France: Stephen Roche won the general classification plus two stages in 1987, Shay Elliott led the race for three days in 1963, and Sean Kelly wore yellow for one day in 1983.
Now back in the regular pink of his EF Education-EasyPost team with the standard-issue paint job on his bike, a top-10 finish in the GC is nevertheless still possible. Healy narrowly missed a second stage win on Mont Ventoux, outsprinted on the final ramp to take the runner-up spot, but still underlined the fact that he is one of the strongest climbers in the race.
To help him focus – as well as to remind him of those incredible three days in yellow (including the rest day) – Healy has kept the yellow-edged Wahoo Elemnt Bolt 3 head unit that was shipped out to him especially.
Healy, who is 5ft 9in, rides a size 51 frame. The LAB71 pro-level version of the SuperSix Evo is made from Cannondale’s Series 0 carbon fibre and weighs a claimed 770 grams in the size 56, two sizes up from Healy’s. So it's pretty light and will certainly be on the UCI minimum weight limit of 6.8kg. The latest version of the US brand’s longstanding race bike was redesigned to blend better aerodynamics with low weight, and now has a delta-shaped fork steerer in order to narrow down the head tube while still running the brake cables internally from the cockpit into the frame.
The cockpit is the SystemBar R-One, which Cannondale designed with motorsports brand Momo, who made the iconic Ferrari steering wheels of the 1970s. The marbled finish has a classic aesthetic that recalls automotive interiors.
Healy's Shimano Dura-Ace shifters are slightly turned inwards for a better aero position on the hoods. In his solo break he maximised this by riding with the outsides of his hands over the hoods, bringing his arms as close together as possible. He uses Fizik Solocush bar tape, which provides a comfortable grip according to his team. Fizik is one of EF Pro Cycling’s partners and Healy uses a Fizik Vento Argo saddle (though he wears Nimbl shoes and POC helmets).
The wheels are the new Vision Metron 60 RS which, considering they have a rim depth of 60mm, are very light at 1,390 grams thanks to a new construction that includes carbon bladed spokes. They use Vision’s new PRS hub with a 72-tooth helical clutch ratchet. There’s a wider 23mm internal rim width that’s designed for bigger tyres and lower rolling resistance. With 30mm Vittoria Corsa Pro tyres he’s maxing out the Cannondale’s clearance – the brand says the SuperSix Evo frame can accommodate 30mm with 6mm of space either side.
Note the pink Muc-Off valves – a clue as to the sealant inside his tyres. Healy also runs Vittoria Air-Liner inserts, according to the EF team.
EF aren’t using the original Dura-Ace cranksets – instead there’s the FSA K-Force Powerbox Team Edition, which has hollow carbon crankarms and is light at 690 grams, probably slightly lighter than the Shimano unit with comparable chainrings. Healy uses 167.5mm cranks, 54/40 chainrings and an 11-34 cassette here. The Elite Leggero carbon bottle cages weigh a claimed 17 grams each.
And finally, his pedals are the one-sided Wahoo Speedplay Aero, which smooth over the cleat area under the shoe and have a dimpled underside designed to reduce drag.
Will we see this bike at the head of affairs again? Well, it’s highly unlikely that Healy will swap it for the yellow one for a second time this year, but he’s an accomplished climber and a canny racer. And, as his team manager Jonathan Vaughters pointed out when he took over the yellow jersey, it’s not just about having the legs, but about having a fire within. And he certainly lit up the Tour de France in 2025.
