The watts behind the win - Ben Healy power data analysis
An incredible stage today: a breakaway battle that just wouldn’t stop, with Quinn Simmons the most aggressive rider throughout - and capped off by a stunning solo win from Ben Healy. Let’s break down the power files of both riders.
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Let’s start with Quinn Simmons - what a ride! In my opinion, he was the strongest rider of the day. His effort was just unreal.
The first time he tried to get away, he put out 570 watts for 4 minutes. After just two minutes of “rest,” he followed that up with 455 watts for 14:30. Then came a relatively “easier” 10 minutes, before pushing 430 watts for 18 minutes - with the final 10 minutes of that stretch averaging 460 watts on the Côte de la Rançonnière.
Once the break was established, the effort levelled out a bit: 2h15 at 314 watts. But the finale was another story. Simmons went with Storer in the chase behind Healy, and due to the nature of that move, it was another steady effort — almost an hour at 384 watts. He closed the day with a 25-second sprint at 900 watts to take second place.
Absolutely insane power numbers. Hats off to Mr. Simmons.
After launching his solo move from the breakaway, Healy averaged 6.2 W/kg for 22 minutes to open up a decisive gap. From there, he held 300 watts for another 31 minutes and 30 seconds all the way to the finish line, securing a dominant solo win.
It was a textbook Healy performance: attacking early, fully committing, and never looking back. While Simmons was the engine in the early chaos and relentless in the chase, it was Healy’s perfectly-timed effort that made the difference.
Two brilliant performances. One stage win. And one very, very impressive set of numbers.
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