Racing

Ending the spring classics with a strong team ride

Ben Healy and Richard Carapaz impress in a hard edition of Liège-Bastogne-Liège

April 21, 2024

Liège-Bastogne-Liège is known as the hardest race of the year within the peloton and the 2024 edition lived up to that reputation.

Ben Healy and Richard Carapaz were up for it as they both rode with their hearts on their sleeves and emptied themselves over the iconic climbs of La Redoute and Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucon. They launched attacks, closed down moves, and rode the finale brilliantly. The results sheet won’t do their rides justice. Richard finished in 26th and Ben Healy finished in 27th but we are proud of the way the entire squad rode today.

With temperatures just above freezing and intermittent showers all day, the race was hard from kilometer zero. The squad did a brilliant job keeping our two race leaders at the front of the pack, avoiding crashes and splits in the peloton in the lead up to the heart of the race.

After an incredible lead out by Harry Sweeny, Ben and Richard were both at the front of the peloton going into La Redoute. When eventual race winner Tadej Pagacar (UAE) launched his attack, Richard put up a strong fight to follow but ultimately couldn’t match the pace.

With Ben in a strong group behind, the chase group fractured on the numerous subsequent climbs. The Irish champion was part of a strong quartet that worked well together, allowing Richard to recover in the group behind.

Romain Bardet (DSM) launched an attack on La Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucon. Ben fought valiantly to stay in touch but ultimately was resigned to follow in the group behind.

“Pretty gutted that I couldn’t follow on La Roche-aux-Focon,” said Ben after the race. “I got myself in the right position, I was where I needed to be, but I just lacked a little bit. Just disappointed because the team did an amazing job today.”

The group behind swelled in numbers in the lead in to Liège with Ben and Richard having to settle for minor places.

Still, our squad raced hard at the front, wrapping up the spring classics on a positive note going into the grand tours.

“In the end the boys did an excellent job. I’m super happy with how the team rode today,” said Richard. “I tried to be there in front, but it wasn’t enough, although the race got exciting again and I was in the mix. That was super important for myself and my head.”

This squad will take a well earned rest and will refocus on the Tour de France and other goals ahead.

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Liège - Bastogne - Liège

Apr. 21, 2024

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Richard Carapaz

Richard Carapaz races with grit and without fear. The Olympic champion and Giro d’Italia winner hails from the high mountains of Ecuador, where he started racing as a 16-year-old kid for his local club. He returns there each winter to help the next generation of children from his hometown of Playa Alta get started in the sport they dream of conquering like him.

Richard has stood on the podium of all three grand tours and won 19 professional races. When Richie wins, he wins with style. He is never afraid to attack and can sense exactly the right moment to go. When he goes—on Richie's day, the best riders in the world can’t hold his wheel.

That is how he won his Olympic gold medal and his Giro d’Italia. That is how he wants to race for us.

After a difficult 2023 season, Richie is ready to attack 2024. Quiet, determined, he is more motivated than ever.

We can’t wait to watch him race in pink.

Full profile

Ben Healy

Ben Healy is one of the best young bike racers of his generation. Born and raised near Birmingham, the 23-year-old is proud of his Irish roots and honored to wear the Bratach na hÉireann colors as the Irish road race national champion.

The 2023 season was Ben’s breakout year. After winning the GP Industria & Artigianato and a stage at Coppi e Bartali, he finished second at Brabantse Pijl and second at the Amstel Gold Race. And then he went and won a stage at the Giro d'Italia with a 50-km solo.

Results like that are a testament to his tenacity.

Ben blazed his own way to the pro ranks. He was riding at his local track by the time he was five years old. Growing up, he was there every Sunday morning to train and race. But his first love was mountain biking. That meant hucking himself off the established track for a young bike racer in Britain. Ben dropped out of the academy and decided to go it alone.

Racing mountain bikes and road bikes on smaller teams, he soon had stage wins at the Giro Ciclistico d’Italia and the Ronde de l’Isard to his name, as well as Irish road and time trial championship titles. In 2019, Ben became the youngest ever winner of a stage at the Tour de l’Avenir.

And now, he has shown that he can go toe-to-toe with the best bike racers in the world in the sport’s greatest races.

Ben loves getting in breakaways and surprising his rivals with his daring attacks. He is as aero as anyone in the peloton and is always looking for the latest edge.

Last to go will be his flowing black locks. Away from the races, Ben likes big cities and hanging out with his friends from art school.