Sam Bennett has already taken two wins this season, which his sprint kick returning, and now he is set for some unscheduled racing in Belgium (Photo: Elias Rom)
Sam Bennett’s recent return to form, with two wins in France the week before last, has seen the Irishman brought into the Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale team for Opening Weekend in Belgium this weekend.
The Irishman was not initially down to race any of the Belgian classics but after his wins at Tour de la Provence – the second one in some style – he will now be in action in the cold, over the cobbles, this weekend.
He will not ride Omloop Nieuwsblad (1.UWT) on Saturday, which is hillier and better suited to the classics riders, but will be in action on Sunday in the 197km Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne (1.Pro).
That race is more sprinter-friendly and is one Bennett first rode way back in 2015, for Bora-Argon 18, when he finished 19th; his best result in the race despite riding it three times since then.
Bennett will on Sunday be part of a Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale team that also includes Oliver Naesen, Dries De Bondt, Stan Dewulf, Tord Gudmestad, Stefan Bissegger and Danish national champion Rasmus Søjberg Pedersen.