At each edition of the Tour de France, the objective of most runners is to leave with one of the four distinctive jerseys. A final reward is awarded by the organizers, it is that of the best-combative. In 2024, it was the Ecuadorian Richard Carapaz, of the EF Education Easypost training who won him.
This Sunday takes place the last stage of this 2025 Tour de France between Mantes-la-Ville and Les Champs-Élysées. After three weeks of competition and more than 3,000 kilometers traveled, the remaining 160 runners will complete their 2025 edition with a stage that reserves all its surprises. Like every year, the last step is synonymous with awards. First through the distinctive jerseys: yellow jersey, green jersey, polka dot jersey and finally the white jersey. A final award was still to be awarded by the organizers, that of super-combatives.
Most titled Merckx
While the prize for combativeness-rewarding the runner having been the most combative during the stage-appeared in 1952, it was not until 1956 that the “super-combative” prize was born, rewarding a runner for his combativeness on the whole Tour. It is André Darrigade who wins the very first prize awarded.
On the record side, it is Belgian Eddy Merckx who holds the greatest number of super-combative prizes with 4 awards obtained between 1969, 1970, 1974 and 1975, for 3 victories in the Tour. The last runner to have won the award and the Tour during the same edition dates from 1981 with the victory of Bernard Hinault. Finally, it is Franck Bonnamour who is the last Frenchman to have won this award, during the 2021 edition.
Healy succeeds Carapaz
Last year, it was the Equatorian runner of the EF Education Easypost training, Richard Carapaz, winner of the mountain ranking who won the prize. This Sunday morning, the organizers unveiled the name of this year’s winner. In competition with runners like Jordan Jegat or Bruno Armirail, the Irishman of the EF Education Easypost training, Ben Healy who is crowned.
At 24 and ranked ninth to General Ben Healy had finished 27th in 2024. During these three weeks, he won the sixth stage in Vire, the first of his young career on the Tour, and his second on a big round after a stage victory on the Giro 2023. But, in addition to this victory, the 2003 Ireland champion on the 2003 Road is amply deserved thanks in particular to three prizes In fact, having worn the yellow jersey for two stages.
