Irish sprinter Sam Bennett has been linked, in reports in the Belgian media, with a move to Ineos Grenadiers.
The Irishman is currently riding for Deceuninck-QuickStep
but his contract with the Belgian WorldTour team is due to expire at the end of
this season.
And while Bennett has enjoyed a hugely
successful period with the self-styled Wolfpack, including two stage wins and
the green jersey at the Tour de France last year, team boss Patrick Lefevere
said last month the Irishman was leaving.
Bennett had been linked with a move back
to Bora-hansgrohe, which was his first pro team and his employer for six years
from 2014 to 2019.
That move back to the German team has been widely speculated on despite the team and Bennett parting ways in messy circumstances two years ago.
Advertisement
Related News
Bora-hansgrohe claimed the
Carrick-on-Suir rider had verbally agreed to stay for one more season and tried
to force him to honour that agreement it claimed he made.
Now respected Belgian media outlet Het Nieuwsblad has reported Ineos Grenadiers wants to sign Bennett. It has further claimed relations between Bennett and Bora-hansgrohe general manager, Ralph Denk, are poor and make the Irishman’s return there unlikely.
Het Nieuwsblad says Bora-hansgrohe effectively forced the Irishman to buy his way out of the team when he left.
The report also says Kurt Bogaerts may be a factor in Bennett going to Ineos Grenadiers. The Belgian was directeur of An Post-Chainreaction when Bennett was coming up through the ranks at the Irish Continental team.
Het Nieuwsblad claims Bennett and
Bogaerts remain close. And the Belgian media outlet adds that because Bogaerts
has recently joined the Ineos Grenadiers management staff, Bennett’s transfer
into the team may be more likely.
Topics
