'Getting crazier and crazier' - Healy adds to 2025 haul with Worlds bronze

The arduous World Championships course in Kigali was always likely to play to Ben Healy’s strengths, and the Irishman's gifts of endurance carried him to the bronze medal behind Tadej Pogačar and Remco Evenepoel.

Healy has made a habit of getting his retaliation in first on days like this, but he found himself chasing Pogačar after the defending champion launched his winning move with 104km still to race.

No matter, Healy was always among the strongest of the chasers, and by the final two laps of an attritional race, only he, Evenepoel and Mattias Skjelmose (Denmark) remained in contention for the medals.

Evenepoel surged away with 20km remaining to secure silver, while Healy bided his time until the last 5km, where he dropped Skjelmose to solo to bronze, 2:16 behind Pogačar.

“It’s pretty special,” Healy told Eurosport. “I’ve done a lot of hard work this season for this, so to stand on the podium with Tadej and Remco is pretty incredible.”

Healy has enjoyed a sparkling fourth professional season with EF Education-EasyPost, capped by an all-action Tour de France, where he won a stage, wore the yellow jersey, finished ninth overall and was elected Super Combatif at the end of the race in Paris.

In July, Healy emulated Shay Elliott, Sean Kelly and Stephen Roche by becoming the fourth Irishman to wear the maillot jaune. He has now emulated that same trio by becoming the fourth Irishman to stand on the podium in the elite men’s road race at the Worlds, and the first since Kelly’s second bronze medal in Chambéry in 1989.

“I think this season is getting crazier and crazier, to be honest,” Healy said. “From a stage win and yellow jersey at the Tour to a podium at Worlds, it’s hard to compare.”

In any case, Healy looks increasingly comfortable in elite company. Earlier this season, he shared a podium with Pogačar at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, just as he had done at Amstel Gold Race two years ago.

“It’s just amazing,” Healy said. “Tadej’s one of the greatest the sport’s ever seen and Remco’s not far behind him, so to be on the podium with them it’s great.”

Still only 25, and with some demanding Worlds course to come in the years ahead, Healy looks set to be a frequent rainbow jersey contender.

“Well, there’s a couple of minutes to make up somewhere,” he smiled. “I’m going to have to go away and work hard for that.”