Sam Bennett (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team) has said his general condition is on the up after his 2nd place finish to Mads Pedersen (Lidl Trek) on the opening day of Critérium du Dauphiné yesterday.
The Irishman was well-supported by his team and said Dorian Godon - his French team mate who has taken a couple of strong sprint wins in recent weeks - should be able to help him in the lead-outs later in the week.
Bennett added Godon may also get a chance for his own result this week, adding he was very happy with how the team had supported him - reeling in the breakaway and also leading him out - on yesterday's opener.
"The guys did a fantastic job," said Bennett after yesterday's finish, where he just came up short against a very strong Pedersen.
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"They were super calm and collected and they did a great job controlling all day and placing me in the final. In the end, it was me, I just didn't have good legs today."
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However, though his legs were perhaps not what he hoped for on yesterday's opening stage, Bennett has come into this race with four wins on the board the week before last and the first general classification victory of his career. And he says, overall, things are headed very much in the right direction.
"The condition is building up quite nicely and the sprint is coming along quite good," he said, adding even on same of the harder stages this week he felt his general condition "should be OK".
One of Bennett's team mates at this race, Dorian Godon, has already taken some sprint victories this year, including two stages at Tour de Romandie and the points classification there.
While Bennett is obviously the main for the bunch sprints, and is the much faster and a more prolific winner than his team mate, the Irishman said Godon may be better-suited to some of the finishes later in the week.
"Definitely during the week there'll be some more opportunities for him I think," explained Bennett, adding Godon's "amazing power" could also be put to "great use" in the lead-outs.
