A New Generation of Cyclists Brings a Brave, Attacking Approach

The Tour de France has long been associated with familiar names like Mark Cavendish, Chris Froome, and Geraint Thomas, but a new generation of young British riders is making its mark on the world’s biggest race. Ben Healy, a 22-year-old from the West Midlands with Irish heritage, has been the revelation of the Tour so far, taking the yellow jersey on the Bastille Day stage to Puy de Sancy.

Healy’s approach to racing is refreshing and exciting, free from the risk-averse tactics of some predecessors. Unafraid to fail, his attacking style has sometimes fallen short, but with a stage win in the 2023 Giro d’Italia and victories in Vire and the yellow jersey just four days later, he has finally fulfilled his promise. His success has been Ineos Grenadiers’ loss, as he is understood to have rejected an opportunity to move to the British team. Healy’s team, EF Education-EasyPost, has been instrumental in nurturing his talent, and his performances have been a testament to the team’s ability to develop young riders.

Oscar Onley, another 22-year-old from Kelso, has also made a significant impact in his second Tour. He admitted that he was overwhelmed on his first appearance in the race, finishing 39th in 2024. However, this year he is seventh overall, coping much better through one of the toughest and fastest opening weeks in Tour history. Onley’s team, Ineos Grenadiers, has high hopes for him, and his steady progression has been marked by stage wins in the 2025 Tour of Switzerland, second place overall in the Tour of Britain, and third place overall in this year’s Swiss national tour.

Joe Blackmore, a 22-year-old from Herne Hill velodrome, is another of the young Britons making his mark on the Tour. His breakthrough win came in last year’s Tour de l’Avenir, where his climbing skills came to the fore with a stage win at La Rosière and then a race-clinching performance on the Colle delle Finestre. Blackmore, currently 31st overall, lost some time after racing in the breakaway on stage 10, but may yet bounce back in the high mountains. His performances have been impressive, and his team, EF Education-EasyPost, is confident that he has the potential to make a significant impact in the second half of the Tour.

As the Tour looks towards the Pyrenees, Blackmore is entering his preferred terrain. “I’m looking forward to pushing on the climbs,” he said. “It should be a different way of racing.” With Thursday’s Pyrenean stage from Auch to Hautacam expected to live up to its billing, the young Britons are ready to take on the challenge and make their mark on the world’s biggest race. The stage promises to be a thrilling one, with the riders tackling some of the toughest climbs in the Pyrenees, including the Col de Peyresourde and the Col du Hautacam.

The emergence of these young British riders is a welcome development for the sport, and it’s clear that they have the talent and the determination to make a significant impact in the years to come. With their attacking style and fearless approach, they are bringing a new level of excitement to the Tour de France, and it will be fascinating to see how they fare in the second half of the race.