Ireland has a new cycling hero. Ben Healy has become the fourth Irish rider to earn the Tour de France’s yellow jersey on Monday with a gritty ride in the fabled race’s first mountainous stage.

Ben Healy rode himself into the ground in a nail-biting finale to become the first Irishman in 38 years to wear the yellow jersey at the Tour de France, as Britain’s Simon Yates claimed victory in stage 10 on Monday with a perfectly timed attack.

Healy takes over race leader’s jersey from Tour favourite Tadej Pogacar after another stunning breakaway ride on stage 10

Ben Healy surged out on his own to win Stage 6 at the Tour de France. Mathieu van der Peul also took back the yellow jersey from Tadej Pogacar.

1. Simon Yates, Great Britain, Team Visma ' Lease a Bike, 4:20:05. 2. Thymen Arensman, Netherlands, INEOS Grenadiers, 4:20:14. 3. Ben Healy, Ireland, EF Education-EasyPost, 4:20:36. 4. Ben O’Connor, Australia, Team Jayco-AlUla, 4:20:54.

It is sometimes taken as a given that a lack of success has inhibited the nation's enthusiasm for its home race. Not a bit of it