Ben Healy is now a big man, aiming for victory in Strade Bianche: "Everyone is a bit afraid of Pogacar"

For the 23-year-old Healy, 2023 was a breakthrough year that one could only dream of. It started with a stage win in Coppi e Bartali, evolved into podium finishes in the Flèche Wallonne and Amstel Gold Race (both second place). In Liège-Bastogne-Liège, he confirmed his great form with a fourth place, before winning a stage from a breakaway in the Giro d'Italia. In the autumn, he was also victorious in the third stage of the Tour of Luxembourg. Nothing short of a transformation for the man who, in 2021, was still racing for the continental team Trinity Racing and got his first taste of the WorldTour with EF in 2022.

Healy heads into Saturday with nine race days already under his belt. He finished fourth in the Etoile de Bessèges and did the same in the highly competitive Tour of the Algarve. "I feel good," Healy starts off our conversation, when asked about his form heading into his first important race of the spring. "I took a few days to recover from the Tour of the Algarve, which was really a tough race. I’m ready to race again now, ready to fight for the victory."

Fight for the what? Yes, we heard that right. Healy is coming to Tuscany with high ambitions and with a team that is also extremely strong. With Neilson Powless, Richard Carapaz and Alberto Bettiol, EF Education-EasyPost has other cards to play besides Healy. "But in Strade Bianche, it ultimately just comes down to how good your legs are. On paper, we are coming here with Richard and myself as leaders, but if Neilson has the legs, we will see him in the finale too."

The fact that the Italian one-day race will stretch over 200 kilometers for the first time on Saturday is an advantage for Healy, so he says himself after a day of recon. "It's punchy, a very tough race. I like that, the extra loop of thirty kilometers makes a tough race even tougher, I can't complain about that. It will be full throttle from Monte Sante Marie, although some may hesitate to go all-in there, with an extra thirty kilometers to the finish. That is where the final selection will be made, and the extra sectors especially make it tougher in terms of endurance."

In 2022, Healy already participated in Siena, but he did not finish at the time. "It was that edition with the crosswinds and the crash of Julian Alaphilippe. I was behind all that, so I never got back into the race. It was a beautiful race, hopefully, I will be luckier on Saturday. I think I am in good shape, but normally I should still be able to improve towards the Ardennes. I am competitive, but maybe not yet in my peak form. On Saturday, I am looking for a podium finish. I would be happy with that."

That is saying something, because whereas Healy got all the freedom he wanted as an unknown rider in 2023, he will be recognized by the other favorites at Strade Bianche. "In the race, I hardly notice this new status, although I can't just launch a crazy attack anymore. It has to be hard enough for that to be possible now. However, I don’t feel added pressure, I know I am stronger and should have confidence in racing these finales. I haven't done much differently this winter, mainly being consistent. Last year I broke my hand early on in the season, but the winter was pretty much the same heading towards the big goals."

Without batting an eye, Healy now talks about general classification ambitions in the Tirreno-Adriatico and competing for the win in the Monuments. Before us sits an elite athlete, who, after races like the Amstel Gold Race and Liège, knows he can compete with the world's best on a good day. "Everyone will be a bit afraid of Pogacar on Saturday, but I have a lot more self-confidence. So far in this season, I have already demonstrated that last year was not a fluke. I am really looking forward to this season. The fact that I could keep up with Wout van Aert on the final day in the Algarve felt good. I am less afraid of the big names than last year, but you still have to respect them. Everyone works extremely hard, and anyone can win on a good day. However, I also know that I won’t necessarily perform well just because I did last year. I need to stay consistent and hope that I keep making progress, year after year. Then I can be a few percentage points better in the future."