Sean Kelly: “I started to think, after a year and a half that Sam mightn’t make it. Now I think he can beat Cavendish and he should get a Tour start." Above, Kelly wins the 1986 Milan-San Remo from Greg Lemond after seven hours in the saddle (Photo: Sirotti)
By Brian Canty
In Calpe, Spain
An Post-Chainreaction Training Camp
Irish cycling legend Sean Kelly has admitted there were times when he thought Sam Bennett would not fulfil his potential and make a living as a professional cyclist, though he is now with Pro-Continental outfit Bora–Argon 18.
Kelly said he always believed Bennett had the talent to go a long way.
But a combination of physical and particularly psychological problems had him wondering was the 24-year-old made of the right stuff.
Advertisement
“It’s not a question of whether he had the talent but I thought he wouldn’t make it because of…reasons,” suggested Kelly.
Kelly on the front of the peloton at the 1983 World Championships in Switzerland, where Stephen Roche took bronze and Greg Lemond won. Also in this shot: Gianbattista Baronchelli , Marc Madiot and Marino Lejarreta (Photo: Sirotti)
“The injury, which was repeating a lot," he continued in reference to a knee ailment that threatened to derail Bennett’s career.
“I think the injury wasn’t the major problems at times.
“Sometimes he had the knee problems but I think a lot of it was up here in his head and I think he’d lost his confidence a lot.
“He was really low and then any little thing seemed to be a major problem and it went on for some time.
“I started to think, after a year and a half…. he mightn’t make it.”
Sam Bennett was tipped for greatness even before he won a stage of the then FBD Insurance Rás in 2009, above.
But Kelly also cited the flashes of brilliance which kept him and An Post Chainreaction directeur sportif Kurt Bogaerts believing.
“We’ve always seen those flashes, and they were flashes,” recalled Kelly.
“Kurt was telling me about these flashes where he’d do races in Belgium where he could do such a big ride and a week or 10 days later he’d be 50 per cent of the rider he was.
"And of course when he was feeling bad he was saying there was a problem, a little thing here, a little thing there.
“I think there was a tiny bit of a tingle here but there was a huge tingle upstairs. But now I think he’s overcome that.”
Bennett took a stage win and was 2nd twice on stages of the 2013 Tour of Britain. Above, he looks to have stage 2 in the bag only to be passed by Milan San Remo winner Gerald Ciolek (MTN Quebeka). His other runner-up slot was on the final stage behind Mark Cavendish.
Heading into his second year in the professional ranks with a lead out now built around him for the first time ever, Kelly is almost licking his lips for what’s in store for the former Tour of Britain stage winner.
“What can he do now? That is going to be the question,” ponders Kelly.
Related News
“This year I think we’ll see the big picture. When you saw him last year, the sprints he put up (were) very impressive.
"But I think there’s room for improvement still because he’s at the age where he can get better," he added of the 24-year-old fellow Carrick man.
“How much (better) for the big sprints? That’s a difficult question.
“It’s like a racehorse or a greyhound, you never know how much more they can keep improving.”
Bennett pips Barry Markus (Belkin Pro Cycling) to the line to win the UCI 1.1 ranked German race Rund um Koln. It was a huge win for the Irishman and his team. Second from the right is his former An Post Chainreaction teammate, and his current Bora-Argon 18 leadout man Shane Archbold.
The pressure is also going to be ramped up and Kelly believes his man can be okay in this regard, sometimes.
“He’s a nervous guy. I’ve seen occasions where he’s in races and in a position where he’s going to win, the pressure can get to him a little bit then.
“Sometimes that nervous pressure can be good for guys, other guys have difficulty.”
Many Irish cycling fans want to see Bennett handed a Grand Tour start this July and with Bora–Argon 18 securing a Tour de France wildcard entry, it’s likely Bennett will be given the nod.
Kelly on the top of Alpe d'Huez after stage 11 of the 1988 Tour de France. He suggests Bennett should only do a portion of a Grand Tour this year (Photo: Sirotti)
Kelly pauses before delivering his verdict on that.
“He’s ready for part of a Grand Tour, I think that would be enough," he says; a comment that may surprise some people.
"If he went for the sprints in the earlier days, 10 days of that would be enough.”
Asked where he now stands in a virtual league table of the world's top sprinters, Kelly is adamant Bennett is right up there.
He believes he is just a shade below Marcel Kittel who is “on a level slightly ahead”.
“I could see him beating Cavendish if he could get himself right,” Kelly said without hesitation.
Kelly is currently in Calpe in southern Spain at an An Post-Chainreaction training camp.
“But there’s a few things; number one, nervousness can affect him in the big races.
“Two, the spotlight is on him because the others have seen what he’s been doing in the past so they know of him.
“And the biggest thing is within the team. He’ll feel they’re working for him now.
"And with that comes the pressure from the press but also the team. All of that, can he carry that? I think he can.
“If Sam can improve, get a bit stronger, I think he can win against the likes of (John) Degenkolb or (Nacer) Bouhanni," he said of two riders with numerous Grand Tour stage wins to their names; Bouhanni having won five last year in the Giro and Vuelta combined.
Topics
