In-form Ben Healy secures second spot at Amstel Gold Race

Irish national time trial champion Ben Healy scored a podium finish at the Amstel Gold Race in the Netherlands beating every rider but one to take second place.

Healy finished behind double Tour de France winner Tadej Pogacar after spending much of the 253km race in the front group.

Healy, who had finished second in Belgian Classic Brabantse Pijl on Wednesday, was part of a 16-strong group that went clear at the front with about 100km remaining.

"At that point we still had Neilson (Powless) behind," Healy said. "He was our main leader for the team, so I kind of got a free ride. I was still rolling through but not really pulling hard turns which definitely helped me in the finale.

"It was a super attritional race. A lot of guys were hurting in that break. You really had to race carefully today, because an important move could happen at any time. Those kind of circumstances suit me well but I think other riders had more trouble with that."

Of that front group, only Healy and Britain's Tom Pidcock were able to follow Pogacar on the climb of the Eyserbosweg with 36km to go. Pogaca duly opened a gap with 28km to go.

Healy and Pidcock regrouped and gave chase in the final 14km.

"We kept working pretty well together, but the first time up the Cauberg I could just feel that his legs were hurting so I gave it a dig on the next climb," said Healy.

Pogacar eventually saw out the win with 38 seconds to spare back to runner-up Healy while Pidock was a further 90 seconds back in third.

"I had a bit of a ride to the finish but it was good," said 22-year-old Healy. "The legs were good today so it was nice to prove to myself that I can do it in good company. Second to the best in the world, I can't be unhappy with that."