Way cleared for Sam Bennett to rejoin Bora-hansgrohe; Sagan and Ackermann out

Sam Bennett's time at Deceuninck-QuickStep has been a roller coaster, though the results have been the best of his career. However, he will leave at the end of this season and now a move to Bora-hansgrohe looks more likely, though it is not confirmed (Photo: Wout Beel)

The way is clear for Sam Bennett to rejoin Bora-hansgrohe as both Peter Sagan and Pascal Ackermann are definitely leaving the team.

Bora-hansgrohe has confirmed today that Slovakian Sagan
and German Ackermann are leaving the team at the end of the year. Their
departures were expected and today’s statement does not come as a surprise.

The departure of the three-time world champion and bunch sprinter effectively removes the layer of riders in the team that had blocked Sam Bennett’s progression with Bora-hansgrohe when he was there; Sagan picked for the Tour and Ackermann selected for the Giro ahead of Bennett at the time.

Bennett has long been tipped to rejoin Bora-hansgrohe at the end of this year when his two-year contract with Deceuninck-QuickStep comes to an end.

Peter Sagan's Tour was ruined by a crash but he's enjoyed some successes this year and it's possible a chance of scene will give him a new lease of life. He's definitely on the way out of Bora-hansgrohe (Photo: Pauline Ballet)

However, it must be stressed that neither
Bennett nor Bora-hansgrohe has made any comment on reports about the mooted
transfer. And Bennett has also been linked to other teams, including moving to
Ineos Grenadiers.

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And that means despite confirmation of
Sagan’s and Ackermann’s departures from Bora-hansgrohe, we will have to wait
for at least another couple of days – when the transfer window official opens –
before we know where Bennett will ride next year.

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While a move back to Bora-hansgrohe –
which Bennett left at the end of 2019 – now looks more likely, it is not
confirmed by the Irishman or the team.

Today Bora-hansgrohe thanked Sagan and Ackermann for the success they had brought to the team, adding they had tried to renegotiate with Sagan and retain him but were unable to reach an agreement.

The end of Sam Bennett's time with Bora-hansgrohe was quite messy, though he enjoyed win after win with the team. In salary terms, and the kind of lead-out resources the team can put in place, it looks like a good move for Bennett - if it happens

Sagan was now expected to going
TotalEnergies while Ackermann has been linked with a move to UAE Team Emirates.

Bennett was unable to start the Tour de France last month because of a knee injury and his team boss Patrick Lefevere made disparaging remarks about him several times before and during the Tour.

It’s unclear where that dynamic between
rider and team now stands and what races Bennett will ride during the remainder
of this season. His last race was more than 2½ months ago.

Back then Bennett won two stages and the
points classification in Volta ao Algarve em Bicicleta and also worked
as a domestique for Kasper Asgreen on the late climbs of the race as the Dane
was trying to win the race.

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