‘Lulls them into a false sense of security’ – How breakaway artist Ben Healy planned his way to a maiden Tour de France victory

As the Tour de France nears the end of the first week, there are still some riders who choose not to look too far ahead at the roadbook, constantly uttering “I’ll take it day by day”, not to get drawn into the pressure of committing themselves to a specific day.

Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) is not one of them. The winner on stage 6 in Vire Normandie, Healy has long had this day marked with an ‘X’, July 10, meticulously planning where he could go and how he’ll get away, as early as the winter when the Tour route came out.