Ben Healy and the EF Education-EasyPost team spent their rest day in Toulouse bathed in the radiant glow that only the Tour de France’s yellow jersey can exude, planning how to keep it for as long as possible as the race heads towards the Pyrenees.

On Sunday evening, during the long transfer to Toulouse, Healy joined his teammates at a motorway service station, joining the American team in their celebrations after the podium ceremonies.

"It's really crazy," Healy commented. "I'm still taking it all in. Social media is blowing up, there are fans in the parking lot. I couldn't even get a coffee this morning. I'm really starting to understand the magnitude of it all. I'm living the dream."

Team manager Jonathan Vaughters, who has led the WorldTour team for nearly 20 years, said: "This is a historic moment. It's one of the best days ever for this team on the podium. What happened yesterday at the Tour is very rare. It was exceptionally special."

Now EF Education-EasyPost must defend Healy's 29-second lead over Tadej Pogačar, with Remco Evenepoel third at 1:29 and Jonas Vingegaard fourth at 1:49.

Vaughters is ambitious: "I think Ben can finish in the top 10 overall. A top five would require a lot of special effort, but in the Tour, you never know. If you're going to dream, you might as well dream big."

Healy remains more cautious but determined: "Let's give it a try. Why not? I'm curious to test my limits, but I'm also realistic. I have to be very smart, push myself every day, and try not to make too many mistakes."