Healy's Montréal performance data offers clues ahead of Worlds

Ben Healy’s recent performance at the GP Montréal may have provided a useful indication of what he can produce when the men’s road race World Championships return to the same circuit on Sunday. 

The Irishman, who took bronze at last year’s Worlds in Rwanda behind Tadej Pogačar and Remco Evenepoel, was one of the key aggressors at the GP Montréal on September 13. 

Healy attacked from the leading group with Maxim Van Gils (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) and Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), before going clear of the pair to establish a solo lead inside the final 20km. 

The EF Education-EasyPost rider held his advantage until midway up the final Camilien-Houde ascent, where Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM) caught and passed him after a stinging acceleration.

Seixas was caught over the crest of the climb by Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), who would eventually outsprint him for victory on the Avenue du Parc. Meanwhile, Healy dug deep to secure eighth place, after an attritional day of racing.

Analysis of Healy’s TrainingPeaks data by his coach and EF Pro Cycling’s technical innovation strategist Jacob Tipper highlighted the effort required to produce that performance and gives the team a good indication of what will be required from the Irishman at the Worlds if he intends to be in the mix.

Healy recorded 334 watts of normalised power over five hours and 13 minutes, spending 70 minutes above his functional threshold power. 

One notable difference between the GP Montréal and the Worlds is the distance. At 273.7km, the Worlds will be almost 60km longer, though it contains less climbing than the GP Montréal course. 

Healy’s data from the GP Montréal provided another example of his ability to thrive deep into a long race, something which could be crucial on Sunday, considering the distance.

With more than 5,000 kilojoules of work, Healy held 600 watts for one minute, followed by five minutes at 443 watts, 20 minutes at 338 watts, while his peak power late in the race reached 984 watts.

Tipper acknowledged the value of Healy’s ability to maintain high-power efforts deep into long races ahead of what he described as a “durability race”.

“Worlds is normally a durability race, which is why it tends to favour certain riders well. It will be interesting to see what the influence of the increased length with less climbing at the Worlds is going to be,” Tipper said.

“Ben should be in a better place. He’ll be less affected by jet lag with some more good training in his legs.”

Having finished seventh in 2024, Healy made the significant leap to finish on the third step of the podium in one of the most attritional editions of the Worlds in Kigali, Rwanda, last season. 

In the process, he became the fourth Irish medallist in the elite men's road race, joining an exclusive club with Shay Elliott, Sean Kelly and Stephen Roche. 

Healy's ability and willingness to attack from distance could again make him a prominent figure on Sunday in Montréal, as his performance data indicates.