There were few chances for sprinters at this year's Tour de France. But next year's route - which has just been unveiled - is a different ball game and can suit Sam Bennett.
By Brian Canty
Sam Bennett might be enjoying the off-season in the Maldives during his well-deserved winter break and the Tour de France is probably the furthest thing from his mind.
But next year’s route is a good one for fast men like the Irish sprinter and will suit him, should he and his team go of course.
Unlike this year where Bennett had scant opportunities – and poor form - to get amongst the bunch gallops, the 2016 Tour de France route which was unveiled today features nine stages that have been categorised as flat.
Though ‘flat’ stages in professional cycling terms may still see riders climb well over 2,000 metres, Bennett will definitely like what he sees.
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In a departure from starting with a time trial, the riders will roll out of Mont Saint Michel in the northern Manche region of France for what is guaranteed to be a bunch sprint on day one.
The race will quickly head south with several more stages for the sprinters but just like this year, the peloton will head for the Pyrenees before the Alps.
For Bennett, the early days will be where he’ll focus most of his attention.
While the opener on Saturday July 2nd – 188km from Mont Saint Michel to Utah Beach - set to suit the sprints, stage 2 finishes atop a steep climb that may suit Dan Martin.
Stage 3 from Grandville to Angers looks likely for a bunch sprint after 222km as does the 232km stage 4 from Saumur to Limoges over 232km.
The next chance for sprinters probably comes on stage 11 – 164km from Carcassonne to Montpelier.
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And stage 14 three days later – 208km from Montélimar to Villars-les-Dombes – looks like another than can suit men like Bennett.
Stage 16 takes the riders 206 from Moirans-en-Montagne to Bern in Switzerland may also end in a bunch gallop, with the next opportunity the final stage onto the Champs-Élysées.
The likes of Martin, Philip Deignan and Nicolas Roche will more than likely keep their powder dry for when the road points upwards.
Martin, now based in Andorra for a chunk of the year, will race on roads he knows well as the ninth stage heads to Arcalis, a summit finish last featured in 2009.
The riders will also enjoy the first rest day in Andorra before descending to southern France and across to Montpellier where another bunch sprint is a certainty.
The fun really starts a day later when the riders head to Mont Ventoux on Bastille Day.
Two days after that is probably the last chance of a bunch sprint before Paris as from there until Paris it’s hilltop finishes, mountain stages or individual time trials.
So chances of an Irish stage win will rest on the shoulders of the aforementioned Deignan, Roche and Martin.
That first week is what Bennett is likely to train much of his thoughts on in the months ahead and the season he’s put down since he withdrew from the Tour this year should have him well armed to take whatever the race throws at him.
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