Sam Bennett has been through the ringer these last couple of days but is not giving up. Sean Kelly believes if he can get through these next few days he could yet play a part in the race.
Irish cycling legend Sean Kelly hasn’t ruled out the possibility of Sam Bennett recovering enough to compete at this year’s Tour de France.
Commentating on Eurosport throughout the Tour, Kelly knows Bennett well as both come from Carrick-on-Suir and are members of the tight-knit cycling community from the area.
He said while the next couple of days were all about getting through and making the time limit, Bennett could start to feel better towards the latter end of the week after his stage 1 sprint finish crash.
“On a long stage like today, 223 kilometres; of course there will be a lot of tired legs in the end,” said Kelly of today’s journey to Angers from Granville.
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“I think the people that are carrying injuries, the riders we saw coming in a long way down yesterday; Sam Bennett came in last man 16:23 down, Michael Morkov from Katusha, Shane Archbold from Bora-Argon 18....
“Those guys are suffering so an easy day for those guys will be very, very welcome.
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“I don’t think those guys will have anything to do in the final just yet because the recovery will take a couple of days.
“But if they get through, give it another two or three days, then you can recover a bit.
“For the days to come; they are all about getting through and hopefully they can start feeling better after.”
Bennett himself expressed some optimism after today's third stage. He was relieved the pace was slower on today's third stage.
“They went a lot easier so it was actually perfect for a recovery day,” he said.
“Okay it was a long, six-hour recovery day but it was good to stay in the peloton for longer and good for the morale as well.
“I didn’t feel better but I went harder and faster and I stayed there longer so that’s a positive.”
View from inside the team, with Bennett
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