Sam Bennett will be on the start line of the Tour de France in Florence on Saturday after being confirmed in the line-up of his Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale team for the the world's biggest race.
The Irishman last rode the race in 2020, when he claimed two stage wins and also won the green jersey, breaking the stranglehold of Peter Sagan on the points classification. His inclusion in this year's race has the potential to completely revive his career as a top flight sprinter, especially after a number of recent victories.
After winning the final stage into Paris in 2020, to cap an incredible race, he has not been back to the Tour since then, though now gets his chance once again.
Bennett suffered injury early in the summer of 2021, ruling him out of the Deceuninck-Quick Step line-up for the Tour that year, only for Mark Cavendish to take his place and win four stages and the green jersey.
Advertisement
And after transferring back to Bora-hansgrohe for 2022 and 2023, Bennett was not selected for the Tour. However, now he is with a new team and back to winning ways - having recently taken five victories - and his return to the Tour is all about one goal; winning a stage.
A big factor in Bennett signing for Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale for this year and next was that it was a smaller team than many of the other World Tour squads, thus offering a much better chance of a Tour de France place.
Related News
And now that decision has paid off as Bennett has been included, as expected, in the team's line-up for the Tour. As well as Bennett, the team is comprised of: Felix Gall, Bruno Armirail, Dorian Godon, newly minted French road race champion Paul Lapeira, Oliver Naesen, Nans Peters and Nicolas Prodhomme.
After some near misses early in the season, when Bennett took a string of podium places but failed to win, Bennett hit form at exactly the right time.
He went to the Four Days of Dunkirk in May and claimed four stage wins, including victory on the last day with an aggressive ride off the front in the final. Those wins secured the overall title, with Bennett becoming just the second Irishman, after Stephen Roche, to win the race overall.
And after finishing being selected for, and finishing, the recent Critérium du Dauphiné (2.UWT), where he climbed quite well at times, Bennett looked like he was assured his place in the Tour line-up.
However, his selection was not absolutely guaranteed as his team has been enjoying its best season for many years, with competition for Tour places more intense than usual.
But, thankfully, the Irish rider's name was on the list when the French team announced its team for the Tour today. Bennett will be gunning for a stage victory, though the field is deep with sprinting talent.
