Bora-hansgrohe backs Sam Bennett to deliver in Belgian classic
Sam Bennett will get the full backing of his team for the 1.UWT-ranked Dwars Doors Vlaanderen in Belgium. The Irishman is in great shape at the moment and could be there at the finish if he has an incident-free afternoon over the 203km contest.
Sam Bennett leads Bora-hansgrohe into battle tomorrow at Dwars Door Vlaanderen after being given a strong vote of confidence by the team.
Bennett will be backed by a strong line-up of riders in Erik Baska, Michael Kolar, Juraj Sagan, Alexis Saramotins, Rudi Selig, Lukas Postlberger and Christoph Pfingsten.
Last year, 34 men came to the line to contest the sprint and a similar scenario this year would suit Sam Bennett.
He’s ridden the race twice before; in 2013 for An Post-ChainReaction and a year later with NetApp-Endura.
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On both occasions he was a non-finisher but he’s a different athlete now.
He starts tomorrow having progressed hugely since his last assault on the race.
He has also just won a stage in Paris-Nice and ridden a decent Milan-Sanremo, where Peter Sagan was team leader.
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The course is 203km and is not for the feint-hearted. There’s cobbles aplenty as well as wind and hills; a mix that should result in an attritional afternoon.
As well as Sagan being absent, Tom Boonen (Quick Step Floors) and Greg Van Avermaet (BMC Racing Team) are also opting to save themselves for other goals.
On Friday E3 Harelbeke takes place and Gent-Wevelgem is down for decision on Sunday.
And while Bennett can beat the very best on his day, the absence of one or two big classics men will not exactly upset him.
Where selections will be made
A key sector of pavé comes at the New Kwaremont after 91k. It’s just 2km so the damage is likely to be limited in the bunch.
But it’s the Taaienberg after 150km that will likely produce the first big selection. It’s short and steep and will thin down the peloton.
Then comes the Kwaremont at 168km and the Paterberg at 171km; serious tests in quick succession.
These three feature in the Tour of Flanders in a couple of weeks and should throw up some great racing.
Among those with realistic hopes of victory are John Degenkolb (Trek Segafredo), Arnaud Demare (FDJ), Jens Debusschere (Lotto-Soudal) and Philippe Gilbert (Quick-Step Floors).
But Bennett will be looking to stop them and add to his first WorldTour win at the recent Paris-Nice.
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