Ben Healy is not another Benny Hill but excels in hilly terrain

[ppanther92]

He actually climbs so much better than I thought he is capable off. Even more so, considering he races like an unguided missile, wasting energy left and right.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Healy could very well become a favorite of mine. The tenacity, often overly opportunistic, a little bit of oddity. My kind of rider. Go Healy.

 

[Brullnux]

Big fan of Healy, I hope he pulls of a stage win by the end of the race

 

[Bolder]

He actually climbs so much better than I thought he is capable off. Even more so, considering he races like an unguided missile, wasting energy left and right.

So much wasted energy for so little reward. If you can get halfway up Pla d'Adet in the lead on a day like yesterday then surely there's a way to win a stage. On the other hand this isn't looking like a good Tour for a mountain break, with none of the Tier 2 climbers having any form.

 

[BigCoward]

He's completely stupid. I love him.

 

[Potomac]

He's a better climber than Carapaz at this point.

 

[tobydawq]

Seriously, why does he always pin his race numbers to his ass instead of doing it like everyone else?

 

[Sciatic]

He's completely stupid. I love him.

That was on display again today!

 

[rallybanana]

He's completely stupid. I love him.

He's like the old Kit Kat ad....he can't sprint, he can't use his brain, HE LOOKS AWFUL.....he'll go a long way

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Seriously, why does he always pin his race numbers to his ass instead of doing it like everyone else?

Why are you looking at his ass instead of watching the race?

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Why are you looking at his ass instead of watching the race?

I'm always looking at how Healy tilts his head to the left shoulder, it looks really uncomfortable if not painful. Reminds me of Paula Radcliffe's strange but still effective running form...

Has he had an injury or some such that would cause that? (Sorry I'm out of the loop if it's already been discussed.)

 

[pastronef]

I'm always looking at how Healy tilts his head to the left shoulder, it looks really uncomfortable if not painful. Reminds me of Paula Radcliffe's strange but still effective running form...

Has he had an injury or some such that would cause that? (Sorry I'm out of the loop if it's already been discussed.)

Mancebo tilted his head too. it's just the way they ride

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Van Wilder also tilts/bops his head sideways when he's committing to an effort. It often looks like he's talking to himself, something along the lines of "when i catch the *** who is making me do this...".

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Van Wilder also tilts/bops his head sideways when he's committing to an effort. It often looks like he's talking to himself, something along the lines of "when i catch the *** who is making me do this...".

lol...fair enough. I thought maybe Healy and I guess some other riders might have had some form of scoliosis, Healy especially though. But that might just be because in his bright pink EF jersey and with his antics he's hard to miss.

Good to know these riders have a merely awkward riding form and not some medical condition, at any rate!

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

lol...fair enough. I thought maybe Healy and I guess some other riders might have had some form of scoliosis, Healy especially though. But that might just be because in his bright pink EF jersey and with his antics he's hard to miss.

Good to know these riders have a merely awkward riding form and not some medical condition, at any rate!

My daughter has scoliosis. She can still keep her head straight. I think if your scoliosis were that bad that you couldn't keep your head straight, that chances of you becoming a successful professional cyclist are quite slim.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

My daughter has scoliosis. She can still keep her head straight. I think if your scoliosis were that bad that you couldn't keep your head straight, that chances of you becoming a successful professional cyclist are quite slim.

Touché.

I read that cycling is considered generally safe for individuals with scoliosis, but professional cycling is obviously a whole different ballgame.

 

[Divergence]

A decade ago or so there was quite a lot of discussion about how bad Froome looked on a bike. I would like to point out that Barloworld Froome is a Marlon Brando for Healy. Healy on a bike must be one of the ugliest things.
The anti-synergy of a dreadful skin suit with a poorly groomed beard, the awful hair, the terrible lean that makes Cadel Evans look like a beacon of symmetry...

 

[Sciatic]

A decade ago or so there was quite a lot of discussion about how bad Froome looked on a bike. I would like to point out that Barloworld Froome is a Marlon Brando for Healy. Healy on a bike must be one of the ugliest things.
The anti-synergy of a dreadful skin suit with a poorly groomed beard, the awful hair, the terrible lean that makes Cadel Evans look like a beacon of symmetry...

Hey at least it makes him immediately recognizable in a group even from the heli shot. Like, “hey who’s that amateur riding with all the pros?” Of course he doesn’t stay in the group for very long anyways!

 

[jmdirt]

Great race BH!

 

[ice&fire]

@Didinho posted an interesting graphical analysis of Healy's head tilt here (LBL '25 race thread)

 

[Bolder]

Healy shows how much success you can have if you just ride your own race. Yes, he's no Pogacar or even an (in shape) Evenepoel. But he just goes and doesn't play games. He knows he can't sprint so he'll take a third place like today as a moral victory.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Never a dull moment with Healy around. Hit or miss, to me it doesn't matter much, its the attitude, the bravery that counts.

 

[iBanesto]

 

[Eagle_Alps]

Mancebo tilted his head too. it's just the way they ride

Escartin!

Riding Ugly: Fernando Escartin | Velominati

Occasionally, he would wet himself in the presence of bullys. Sometimes, getting the job done…

www.velominati.com

 

[armchairclimber]

He has become a fave this year. He is the archetypal "have a go hero" .