Healy makes Irish history with yellow jersey heroics

BEN Healy became the first Irishman since Stephen Roche in 1987 to take the overall lead at the Tour de France on Monday, delivering a relentless ride over eight gruelling climbs in the Massif Central.

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The 24-year-old EF Education-EasyPost rider had already claimed stage six in Normandy, but on this occasion the ever-smiling Healy confirmed his promise with a career-defining effort to seize the fabled maillot jaune.

He becomes only the fourth Irishman to wear the yellow jersey, following in the footsteps of Shay Elliott (1963), Sean Kelly (1983), and Roche, who famously won the Tour 38 years ago.

Healy’s performance even eclipsed that of stage winner Simon Yates, who tracked him throughout the day as they crossed the dramatic ancient volcanic landscapes of the region.

Such was the Irishman’s aggression as the breakaway group tore through grey-black volcanic rock villages that he was also awarded the combativity prize for the most attacking rider of the day.