Sam Bennett was in the front group into the last 30km at Milan-San Remo and believes he can now feel confident about his future in the race (Photo: Sirotti)
By Brian Canty
Sam Bennett has said Milan-San Remo is a race he could be sprinting for victory at in the future having ridden it for the first time last Sunday.
The Bora-Argon 18 man finished 78th 4:59 down on winner John Degenkolb (Team Giant-Alpecin) but believes having banked valuable experience he has what it takes to contend in it.
“I was happy enough, I can’t complain, I got to learn a lot of the race,” said Bennett.
“I wasn’t feeling great but I was in the (front) group until 268k when the wheels started to come off on the climb of the Cipressa.
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“I was behind Cav (Cavendish) and (Alex) Kristoff. I was feeling pretty good and a crash happened.
“The group got a 20-metre gap and it was hard at that point anyway.
“But I went into the red to get back on and for about 2 kilometres guys were letting wheels go. I’d to go around them, I had to keep doing that.
“I don’t know how long the climb was but just before it flattens out and turns left I blew up and lost contact.
“The last two climbs the team tried to get me back on but it was game over.”
However, valuable lessons were learned. “I think I might have been a kilo or two too heavy as well,” Bennett continued.
“I got to the finish and the endurance wasn’t a problem, I actually finished okay. I wasn’t like I was at the end of Tirreno Adriatico or Kuurne – I was dead there.
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Bennett said he did not feel as tired after Milan-San Remo as he did at the end of the recent Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne, above (Photo: Martine Verfaillie)
“This one I was pretty good; it didn’t feel like 300k. I realised it’s a race I could be sprinting for.”
Bennett said the difference between his ride on Sunday and finishing in the front group was not as much as some may think.
“Okay, five minutes sounds like a lot but it’s not really over that distance,” he said.
“You improve 1 or 2 per cent and all of a sudden you have yourself in a better position and you’re saving energy and you get that bit further; I’m not a million miles away.
“But I learnt simple stuff; like when guys were taking kit off I was hesitating for another 10 or more kilometres.
“I couldn’t believe the difference when I took the leg warmers off. I felt so much better but I should have done it 20 kilometres before it.
“Then the tempo would go up and I’d be trying to get it off and go back to the car and then I’d try to move back up; little things like that.
“I think I rode pretty okay for my first time but it’s just a lack of experience.
“The team were happy with me as well. They knew what to expect and wanted to give me the experience.
“They knew if they told me go in the break I wouldn’t have gotten so far into the race and got to learn what I need for the future. I’m happy they gave me the opportunity.”
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