Sam Bennett is now in poll position to not only ride the Tour de France, but to be a protected rider with a dedicated lead out train.
Emerging Irish sprinter Sam Bennett looks to be on the cusp of riding his first Grand Tour with news breaking today that his team has been granted a wildcard invitation to the Tour de France.
Bora-Argon 18 rode the race for the first time last year, as NetApp-Endura.
Bennett was in his first year in the ProContinental ranks and the team also decided to build its line-up around Czech star Leopold König’s attempt to make an impact on the general classification.
Both factors meant Bennett did not make the team for the race.
König would finish 7th overall, a ride that increased the team’s chances of being invited back.
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Bennett took his chances very well last year, Irish fans would love to see him in the mix for a stage win at the Tour de France.
German television announced two weeks ago it was going to broadcast the race again this year after a break of several seasons due to the doping problem in the sport.
It was widely felt that development increased the chances of Bennett’s German-registered and German-backed team being granted another wildcard in order to ensure maximum German interest in the race for the returning television cameras.
Now Tour owners ASO have confirmed Bennett’s team will be on the start line in July.
The wildcard invitees just announced are: Bora-Argon 18, Bretagne, Cofidis, Europcar and MTN-Qhubeka.
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ASO also owns the Paris Nice and Critérium du Dauphiné stage races.
And while Bennett’s team has not been invited to Paris-Nice, it has been offered a wildcard to the pre Tour de France Critérium du Dauphiné.
If he is selected to ride the Tour de France, he will likely ride the Dauphiné as preparation.
Now rebranded as Bora-Argon 18, Bennett's NetApp-Endura were very pleased with their 7th place overall in the Tour last year. Can Bennett bring stage success this time around?
Bennett won four races in his first year with team, two from bunch sprints and two in sprints from breakaways.
And with the team’s major general classification man from last year, König, having moved on to Team Sky, it has opted to bring in riders to beef up the lead-out train for Bennett.
Included in those transfers has been his former team mate at An Post-Chainreaction and Commonwealth Games track champion Shane Archbold from New Zealand.
Those moves all suggest the squad is backing Bennett for the season ahead as a key rider.
And when the line-up for the Tour de France is confirmed, the team is expected to select riders who will aim for stage wins rather than the general classification like last year.
There is still a long way to gone before the flag drops in France in six months time, but it seems Bennett is now in poll position to not only be in the Tour team, but to be a protected rider in the race with a dedicated lead out train.
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