Irish sprinter Sam Bennett has already won some very big races. But one of pro cycling's biggest coaching names believes there is a lot more to come.
By Shane Stokes
Sam Bennett is still trying to land his first victory of 2016, but his coach Neal Henderson is certain that the Irishman has made solid gains in the past twelve months and believes this will translate into some big results.
“We know there are some measureable improvements that was see through certain values,” the American told stickybottle recently.
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“I never peg one single thing; a single five second sprint is lovely and nice, but realistically if you are really well rested and actually don’t train much, you can bump up your five second power and have a higher value.
“However it is not really that effective as you don’t make it to the end of the race.
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“What is more important is the capacity to do work on the front end of some of Sam’s training and then finish with some good explosive efforts.
“Again, for him, performance-wise; getting to the finishes towards the front without being completely blown out or over his limits is what is going to open up the possibilities for more, better results.”
Bennett got his season off to a fine start with second in his first race, the Trofeo Felanitx race in Mallorca.
He finished just centimetres behind Andre Greipel (Lotto Soudal), who took four sprint wins in last year’s Tour de France.
Three days later the Irishman was fourth in the Trofeo Playa de Palma.
Since then he was fourth, fourth and sixth on stages of the Tour of Qatar plus seventh overall. He was also fifth on the final stage of the Tour of Oman.
Henderson believes Bennett's ride in the Worlds last September was a very strong indication if increased endurance that bodes very well for the years ahead (Photo: Sean Rowe)
The biggest issue has been his position heading into the sprints, with the Carrick-on-Suir rider too far back on several occasions and thus being unable to land a win.
While that has been frustrating for him, he acknowledges that he has made solid progress and knows that the results will come.
Part of his progression is down to his first off-season in Monaco, and the fine weather conditions he experienced there.
Being based in Ireland and Belgium in the past threw more complications at him, but he was able to put in some very solid training.
Henderson believes there are other reasons too.
“There are probably a few things as a factor. One is just his maturation as a rider, with last season and some of the races he did. One was the Tour, and the amount of time that he stayed in there.
“Even though it was a bit rough going [due to illness beforehand and during the race – ed.] there are still some benefits at times when you got that deep and push yourself beyond what you think you can do.
“I think there was also a bit of a psychological breakthrough, in terms of being able to push through those harder days in the Tour.
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"That kinda opened up perhaps even more psychological than physiological capacities at that point. It does a lot for your confidence.
“The another big one was the worlds road race, given that it was the longest road race that he was in and was contesting towards the end.”
Bennett has shown a huge amount of ability since he started cycling. Above, U23 champion in Monaghan in 2011 (Photo with thanks to Eddie Dawson)
As Henderson notes, Bennett remained in contention very late in that event.
This showed his improving endurance levels as a rider, something he likely derived from having the first Grand Tour of his career in his legs.
“It was close in the worlds,” he said. “He was tailed off just that little bit. He made that big move on one lap to go when things were starting to go off.
“I think he used just that little bit too much energy there but, depending on the race situation, that could have been the important move and put him in a better place.
“Having the capacity to be responding that late in the race was definitely another positive.”
“He is ready for another step in his progression”
Given the progress Bennett has made, Henderson is clear as regards what are realistic expectations.
“He has got the tools and the capacity to get a few more wins to his name, for sure,” he said.
“And I think the quality of some of those victories could also come up. It’s not that he hasn’t already had some very good ones against other class riders.
“But I think he is ready for another step in that progression, in terms of bigger events and maybe even be more consistently be punching right in there.”
Bennett has said that his first big target is Milan-Sanremo.
Both he and Sean Kelly believe it is a race that could suit him; Henderson agrees, and thinks he could be in the thick of the fight this season.
“There are definitely chances. I think they have gone back to the old finish without some of the additional climbing towards the end.
“I would say would tend to move things again towards the favour of a sprinter like Sam,” he said.
“Again, his increased capacity from the racing and training that he has done clearly puts him in with a better chance than he has had previously.
“So, absolutely; it is a target and his preparation for it is definitely going well. It will be an exciting test.
“But one race doesn’t… a great result there wouldn’t be the only thing that would be important for the year, just as not landing a great result there wouldn’t mean that things aren’t going in the right direction.”
Returning to the Tour de France and aiming higher there will be another big season goal. Ditto the World Championships in Qatar, which is on the sort of course that could result in a big bunch finish.
“There are high priorities there,” Henderson states. “Getting a stage in the Tour is clearly one of those major, major career things.
“I am very confident that is in his future. Exactly how far and when we will see. We hope for it sooner than later, but that is why we race.”
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