Sean Kelly explains why the next few days at Paris-Nice could increase Sam Bennett's earnings and stature in professional cycling even further.
Sean Kelly has said Sam Bennett could boost his career at a crucial time for his future with a win at Paris-Nice.
And if he were to get the leader's jersey at some point early in the race, it could bring his stature and earning power to a new level.
Kelly said while the opening three stages looked like sprinters’ opportunities, it was possible the fourth stage could also be one for Sam Bennett.
And while there would be a lot of other fast men eyeing stage wins and the jersey, Bennett was capable of beating them all and perhaps leading the race.
Three years ago Bennett pulled it off at Critérium International; a win on the opening stage firing him into yellow.
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Sam Bennett in yellow with the most famous stuffed toy in world sport; at Critérium International 2016.
With his contract at Bora-hansgrohe expiring this year, Kelly felt that fact combined with the rewards on offer at Paris-Nice meant it was a key race for the 28-year-old.
He added the fact Bennett already has two wins this year and had won a stage in Paris-Nice before meant he could be full of confidence in aiming big in coming days and raising his asking price on the transfer market even further.
“I think this race could be very influential,” Kelly said of Bennett’s next contract, with any team.
“If he won the first stage and kept the yellow jersey for a few days that would be a huge achievement.
“And in the case of teams who are looking at him; it would create huge interest in him. Teams would look at him and say ‘this guy’…
“Really big teams looking for a sprinter who can win against the best; it would put his name up there even more. He’d be at the top of that list. The time is now.”
Kelly said winning the opening stage was a dream scenario as it meant the yellow jersey and possibly retaining it for several days. But winning any stage would be a major result.
“It’s going to be a special opportunity for Sam and an exciting one if he can get it right,” he said.
Winning the last sprint at the recent UAE Tour; the second of two wins to date in the early days of the 2019 campaign.
Kelly is an expert on Paris-Nice; winning the race seven times in a row from 1982 to 1988.
And while he first took the race leader’s jersey early in the 82 edition, he lost it and won it back on the final day; winning both the morning road stage and the afternoon 11km Col d'eze TT.
He took the overall victory from Gilbert Duclos-Lassalle. Kelly was 25 years old at the time.
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“To get the yellow jersey in Paris-Nice is a big one; for me I was more thinking of having it at the end, winning the race overall,” he said.
“Jean de Gribaldy was always singing that hymn to me; that I could win a race like Paris-Nice. And I’d been building up towards that for a few years,” he said of his manager at the time at Sem–France Loire–Campagnolo.
“Now this year for Sam; he will of course be very much aware that a stage win would also mean the race leader’s jersey is for the taking,” he added.
“All of the other sprinters will be thinking of that too. But of course the French, and many of the Europeans, still look at Paris-Nice as the first really important stage race of the season.
“You can have a discussion with them as much as you like. But they’ll say the races up to now are not as important and that Paris-Nice is bigger and more significant.
A first WorldTour win; at Paris-Nice in 2017. Since then Sam Bennett has won 18 times, 11 of those in WorldTour races.
“So if Sam were to get the yellow jersey on that first day, with the team riding for him he could hold it for a number of days.
“And that would really put him up there and it’s really important for him right now. We know with Bora-hansgrohe, things may change,” he added of Bennett possibly leaving this year.
“Now, that brings pressure for Paris-Nice. But it is also a great chance for him; a great chance for that limelight in terms of what teams may be looking (for riders) for next year.”
Kelly added he was not surprised Bennett was now proving successful so often.
And while talk of stage wins and being in contention for the lead at Paris-Nice brought pressure, he says Bennett handles that pressure much better now than in previous years.
He points to the fact his fellow Carrick-on-Suir man went into the final stages at both Vuelta a San Juan and UAE Tour having gone close to a stage win but not pulling it off.
And while he was under more pressure on the final days of those races to come good; he did so on both occasions. Kelly felt that was significant and it was a sign of Bennett’s growth and confidence.
Sam Bennett handling expectations
“He definitely takes that pressure well; he said himself he’d keep trying and it would come right. He did that and he was proven right.
“He handles that pressure better now than the early part of his career. And now to have three days at the start of Paris-Nice suited to him; that’s huge.
“But he always had the talent, we know that; it was just about getting him right. In the early days of his career he wasn’t able to take the pressure as well as he is now.
“He’s settled in there now, he knows that sometimes you just have to be patient. With his training too; when he went from An Post to Nett App-Endura at first, he maybe wasn’t as relaxed.
“But now he has that patience, and he’s always had the speed. But having the patience is important because with sprinting at this level it’s such a fine line.
“If you get it wrong, in a sprint of just a few hundred metres; one tiny mistake and it’s game over, you’ve lost.
“And then you just have to refocus and say ‘tomorrow’s another day’. He can do that well now and in Paris-Nice he should have a number of chances over those first days.”
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