🇮🇪 Ben Healy Claims Glorious Solo Victory on Stage 6 of the Tour de France 2025
Saint-Lô, July 2nd 2025 — Ireland’s Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) produced a sensational solo performance to win Stage 6 of the Tour de France, delivering Ireland’s 15th stage victory in race history and his team’s first win since Richard Carapaz in 2024.
Launching a daring attack with 42.5 kilometres to go, Healy quickly distanced his breakaway companions and built a commanding lead on the undulating Normandy roads. Known for his aggressive racing style, Healy maintained a relentless tempo, conquering the Côte de Saint-Michel-de-Montjoie at over 30 km/h and extending his gap over the chasing duo of Michael Storer and Quinn Simmons to nearly two minutes in the final 10 kilometres.
Despite efforts from Mathieu van der Poel’s group and a chasing peloton trailing by over six minutes, Healy’s audacious move held firm. Crossing the finish line with arms aloft, the Irishman celebrated a career-defining moment, adding a Tour de France stage victory to his Giro d’Italia triumph in 2023.
“I knew today was a day for the break, and I just went all in,” Healy said at the finish. “Once I got the gap, I just had to believe.”
The win marks a milestone for Irish cycling, coming five years after Sam Bennett’s famous Champs-Élysées sprint victory in 2020, and elevates Healy as a standout character in this year’s race.
VIRE, July 2, 2025 — Ireland’s Ben Healy (EF Education–EasyPost) delivered a masterclass in solo breakaway riding, storming to victory in Stage 6 of the Tour de France after attacking with 42.5 kilometers to go and holding off all pursuers to win by a decisive margin.
The 25-year-old Irishman, renowned for his aggressive style and success from long-range attacks, conquered a lumpy Normandy parcours littered with short but testing climbs. His performance marked Ireland’s first Tour stage win since Sam Bennett on the Champs-Élysées in 2020, and EF Education–EasyPost’s first since Richard Carapaz’s triumph last year.
Stage Results — Stage 6 (Saint-Lô ➝ Vire, 203 km)
| Pos | Rider | Team | Time/Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ben Healy | EF Education–EasyPost | 4h 24′ 10″ |
| 2 | Quinn Simmons | Lidl–Trek | +2’44” |
| 3 | Michael Storer | Tudor Pro Cycling | +2’51” |
📊 Key Race Moments
- Breakaway formed at km 57, including Healy, Simmons, Storer, Van der Poel, Yates, Dunbar, Barta, and Tejada.
- Healy launched his decisive solo move with 42.5 km remaining, immediately opening a 5-second gap.
- He extended his lead relentlessly, topping all remaining climbs alone:
- Côte de Saint-Michel-de-Montjoie (3.7km at 4.5%) at 30.5 km/h
- Côte de Vaudry (1.2km at 7.2%) at 24.5 km/h
- The Irishman claimed maximum KOM points at the final climb and crossed the line alone in Vire.
🏆 Historic Solo Wins Comparison
Healy’s effort was the longest solo win in the Tour since 2021, and slots into modern Tour history’s notable long-range raids:
| Year | Rider | Solo Kilometers |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Floyd Landis | 126 km |
| 2022 | Bob Jungels | 60.5 km |
| 2025 | Ben Healy | 42.5 km |
📈 General Classification Situation
While the breakaway reshaped the day, no change at the top overall:
- Yellow Jersey safely in the peloton, finishing +6’59” behind Healy.
- Healy moves up significantly on GC but remains a breakaway specialist outside overall contention.
🇮🇪 Irish Milestone
- 15th Irish stage win in Tour history
- First by an Irish rider in 5 years
- Healy adds this to his 2023 Giro stage victory in Fossombrone, another daring solo ride.
🎙️ Rider Reaction
“I was hoping for freedom today — I just went all in and kept my head down. The finale was tough but the legs were good. It means a lot to win here.” — Ben Healy
📌 Stage 6 Key Stats
- Average speed: 46.1 km/h (first 150km)
- Climbs:
- Côte de Mortain Cote 314 (1.6km at 9.5%)
- Côte de Juvigny-le-Tertre (2.2km at 7.3%)
- Côte de Saint-Michel-de-Montjoie (3.7km at 4.5%)
- Côte de Vaudry (1.2km at 7.2%)
- Gap at Finish:
- +2’44” to Simmons
- +6’59” to Peloton
📅 What’s Next
Stage 7: A Hilly day for the sprinters between Saint-Malo > Mûr-de-Bretagne Guerlédan — but after today’s exploits, no one will underestimate an early move.
