Ben Healy on cycling’s limits: 'In any sport I think it’s impossible to go, "Oh yeah, the sport is 100% clean"'

Ben Healy has admitted that whilst he believes cycling has placed the necessary attention and applied measures to combat doping in the sport, cheating is something that every sport has to face.

“In any sport I think it’s impossible to go, ‘Oh yeah, the sport is 100% clean,” said Healy in an interview with the Irish Mirror, explaining that he believes the sports governing bodies are doing what they can to prevent cheaters from prevailing. 

“That’s not to take away from anything that the sport and the governing bodies are doing to try and keep it clean and catch people out,” said Healy. “Look at Oier Lazkano, everyone’s being tested thoroughly and pretty often to be honest, potentially even more than other sports.”

One of the most recent high-profile cases in the men’s peloton centred around Spanish rider Oier Lazkano. 

The 26-year-old, who most recently rode for Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe, was provisionally suspended by the UCI in October after unexplained abnormalities were detected in his biological passport spanning three years from 2022-2024, before he joined the German team. 

Lazkano later denied the allegations, though his former Movistar teammate Mathias Norsgaard questioned the current anti-doping system and stated, “I’m glad that those who cheat get caught. I am probably a bit astonished at how it can slip through.”

In an interview in October, Mark Cavendish highlighted the increased attention on anti-doping measures, given cycling's history and, in particular, following Lance Armstrong's anti-doping measures, stating, "I know that, fundamentally, I believe I've raced in one of, if not, the cleanest sport in the world because they do the stuff to combat doping."

Healy also discussed the increasing speeds in the peloton, after Tadej Pogačar’s fourth yellow jersey success at the Tour de France in 2025 marked the quickest edition in the race’s history with an average speed of 42.849km/h. The 25-year-old highlighted the development in equipment and race strategy as some of the key factors for this increase in overall speed. 

“I think the biggest thing to attribute to why racing is so fast now look at the equipment that we’re using now to even when I was racing first year at Under-23 which is only five years ago,” said Healy. “The bikes are night and day different almost, that’s the first thing. And then just the way that we’re racing now.’

“Look at UAE, they just set up their train and one by one the riders pull the race along at maximum speed possible. That makes a big difference,” added Healy.

It was a majorly successful race for the Irishman, who won a stage, enjoyed a stint in the yellow jersey and finished 9th overall, illustrating his GC capabilities. In the process, Healy became the fourth Irishman to wear the yellow jersey, following Shay Elliott, Sean Kelly and the first since Stephen Roche won the race in 1987. 

Beyond the Tour de France, Healy finished 3rd at the road race World Championships in Kigali, Rwanda, emulating the same trio by becoming the fourth Irishman to stand on the podium of the elite men's road race at the Worlds.

After such a successful season, Healy admitted that he dares to dream about winning the Tour one day, but remains realistic about the prospect and acknowledged the improvements he would need to make in order for it to be an ambition he could strive for.

“I think every cyclist has that deep down, that dream [winning the Tour de France]” said Healy. “You’ve also got to be realistic, don’t you? I’d love to think that maybe one day I could win the Tour, I think right now it’s potentially a bit of a stretch.