EF Schooling-EasyPost have introduced that Ben Healy has prolonged his contract by means of the tip of 2029.
The transfer secures the way forward for one of many sport’s premier puncheurs and breakaway males, and sees him stay on the US squad by means of his eighth skilled season.
Healy, 25, joined the group as a neo-pro in 2022 and rapidly established himself as a pressure to be reckoned with within the hills. His palmarès boasts lengthy solo stage wins on the Giro d’Italia (50km in 2023) and the Tour de France (42km final summer time), in addition to podium locations at Liège-Bastogne-Liège and Amstel Gold Race.
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Healy can be a bronze medallist on the Highway World Championships, having raced to 3rd in Rwanda final autumn. In whole, he has 10 wins to his identify, and concluded final season because the Twelfth-ranked rider on the earth.
„I am shut mates with the fellows on the group, and that creates an infectious ambiance that brings everybody nearer collectively,“ Healy mentioned upon signing his new deal.
„It isn’t simply us guys, it is everybody, all of the workers. There’s not a race or a coaching camp you go to the place you’re upset to be there. It is at all times good enjoyable, and the dinner desk is at all times an ideal snicker. We spend so many days on the street, so that’s tremendous essential. It makes you’re employed that bit tougher for one another.“
This 12 months, Healy will as soon as once more goal the hilly races the place he is discovered success previously. He’ll begin his season at Strade Bianche (March 7), earlier than taking up the Ardennes Classics in April. A return to the Tour de France can be on his schedule.
Healy mentioned he is excited to get again to it after the low season, noting that he is hungry for extra success
„I simply have to proceed being myself,“ he mentioned.
„I need to lead by instance. I need to go about it how I at all times have carried out. I really like the method of getting higher. Popping out of the offseason, after not driving my bike for a few weeks, I used to be so excited to get again into that course of. I discover it so rewarding.
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„To be right here on this place with the palmarès that I’ve is one thing I am tremendous pleased with. I’ve grown a lot as a rider and actually refined my craft. I’ve by no means misplaced the starvation for it.“
This 12 months, he is among the many leaders on a group which can even depend on the likes of Giro d’Italia podium finisher Richard Carapaz, Dwars door Vlaanderen champion Neilson Powless, and Giro stage winner Kasper Asgreen.
The EF squad for 2026 is basically the identical as 2025, with simply 5 adjustments, together with the additions of US racer Luke Lamperti, Canadian Michael Leonard, and junior cyclo-cross world champion Mattia Agostinacchio.
„Attending to that place the place I do know I can go compete with the most effective is what motivates me,“ mentioned Healy.
„I get pleasure from racing, and I get pleasure from being on the entrance of a race, however in case you do not put within the work, you are not going to be there. The wins are clearly superb, however it’s simply attending to the purpose the place you’ll be able to race and compete to win these races that drives me.“