{"id":273642,"date":"2025-07-19T02:58:36","date_gmt":"2025-07-19T02:58:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/273642\/"},"modified":"2025-07-19T02:58:36","modified_gmt":"2025-07-19T02:58:36","slug":"ben-healy-is-the-coolest-guy-in-the-tour-de-france","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/273642\/","title":{"rendered":"Ben Healy Is the Coolest Guy in the Tour de France"},"content":{"rendered":"

These days, athletes are rock stars. They date rock stars, launch brands and podcasts, show up at fashion weeks, and go viral for their tunnel fits. Cycling isn\u2019t usually the first sport in the zeitgeist that comes to mind when you think of swagger or standout personalities. It takes a specific kind of focused, technical athlete to grind up and down mountains for 23 straight days across an entire country. But Ben Healy, the unequivocal breakout star and people\u2019s champ of this year\u2019s Tour de France, is here to change that (whether he knows it or not).<\/p>\n

The Wordsley, England-born Irish cyclist grabbed the yellow jersey<\/a> for two stages, after winning the stage in Vire, this week, making him the fourth-ever Irishman to wear it\u2014 the first since 1987. Healy rides for EF Education-EasyPost, the down-to-earth cycling team known for donning Palace Skateboard kits and bold, sometimes experimental, race tactics. Fresh off his historic stretch at this year\u2019s Tour, we flagged Healy down between stages to learn more about his love for Issey Miyake, anime, Nutella crepes, and more.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\tPhotos courtesy ef pro cycling\t\t<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\tPhotos courtesy ef pro cycling\t\t<\/p>\n

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Robby Kelly: What music are you listening to right now? Any go-to songs or albums while training?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ben Healy: I\u2019m actually going to a Sub Focus concert in Toulouse after the Tour, so I\u2019ve been scrubbing up on their music. While training, there\u2019s a set they did a couple of years ago at a festival called Rampage\u2014Sub Focus and Wilkinson<\/a>\u2014that\u2019s a classic for me. Gets me going.<\/p>\n

Do you have a favorite anime series?
<\/strong>
Hunter \u00d7 Hunter, by far.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s your favorite movie of all time?
<\/strong>
I think The Shawshank Redemption is my favorite.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ve got some great holiday dumps on Instagram<\/a>. Are there any travel spots currently on your radar?
<\/strong>
Honestly, I\u2019ve got a long bucket list of places I would like to visit. High on the list is Copenhagen, Denmark\u2014mostly because I have two Danish teammates. I also really want to go on a Safari in South Africa. That\u2019s probably number one.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\tPhotos courtesy Ben Healy\t\t<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\tPhotos courtesy Ben Healy\t\t<\/p>\n

Your vacation outfits are also elite<\/a>. How would you describe your style? Any fashion inspirations?
<\/strong>
On my vacations, I try to go for a bit of a theme, you know? I like to buy a few staple pieces\u2014one example is the Issey Miyake stuff, which I really like\u2014and then I mix it with some classic, simple pieces. I don\u2019t have anyone I look to in particular, but I definitely follow a couple of fashion influencers and pull inspiration from all over.<\/p>\n

I have a long-standing favorite item that I think everyone has seen me wear, which is my Issey Miyake trousers. They look good, they pack small, they\u2019re casual, they\u2019re smart\u2014they do everything.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\tThe aforementioned trousers.\t\t<\/p>\n

When the Tour\u2019s over, do you have a cheat meal in mind?
<\/strong>
I\u2019m a massive foodie, so I end up stuffing my face with everything and anything. That\u2019s one of the reasons I love cities\u2014there\u2019s always good food. Especially in Paris, I\u2019d say a classic steak and frites restaurant would be high on my list after the Tour wraps.<\/p>\n

What are your go-to snacks during the Tour?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019m on a pretty strict diet while racing, so nothing too exciting. But I\u2019ve been absolutely smashing crepes in the morning, especially crepes and Nutella made by our chef, Owen Blandy. That\u2019s definitely my comfort food right now.<\/p>\n

Ever ridden a Lime bike?
<\/strong>
I\u2019ve done some Citi biking, but I usually stick to my Cannondale. I gravitate towards electric bikes. They\u2019re great, you don\u2019t have to try that hard, and it\u2019s easy to get around. The non-electric ones are a bit harder\u2014you\u2019ve got to work for those (laughs).<\/p>\n

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You\u2019re the fourth Irish cyclist in history to wear the yellow jersey. Did you sleep in it? And what was it like putting it on?
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I can\u2019t say I slept in it\u2014it was pretty hot\u2014but I kind of wish I had. So off the record: I didn\u2019t. On the record: I did.<\/p>\n

The first word that comes to mind is \u201cstressful.\u201d But not in the way everyone would expect. There\u2019s a lot that comes with the yellow jersey. A lot of media and, honestly, the first stage was absolute chaos.<\/p>\n

I didn\u2019t really get a chance to enjoy it. But now I\u2019ve lost it and a couple of days have passed, it\u2019s starting to sink in. In the shower after today\u2019s stage, just like \u201cwow.\u201d The last few days have been a dream. Even though I lost the jersey today, that final climb was unreal. With the fans screaming my name, it was honestly a dream come true.<\/p>\n