Sam Bennett - no same day spoilers

sxt

Any thoughts on Sam bennett decision to leave quick step? Obviously the biggest mistake of his life in hindsight. Can't begrudge him not expecting more money . He probably had an agent pusihng for too much,but the career achievements he could have missed out on on are so huge... [ I know he pulled out with injury the next year, but I don't think that injury would have happened if he was happy where he was at]

He would have had a reasonablly easy defence of the green jersey . A has been mark Cavendish won it the year after

Then he goes back with Bora who again leave him out of tour de france, like they did before quick step...A really bizarre decision. It's like you are going for the money rather than the plaudits. Getting paid triple to be on the bench for man city rather than playing for a mid league team. Waste of talent

Fantastic achievements what he achieved and an irish sporting legend, but he rested on his laurels like so many others in sport

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120789269#Comment_120789269

That whole post is based on the Patrick Lefevere theory that Sams injury was a lie.

He pulled out the Cavendish year with an injury not the next year.

Also he didn't go for the money you are wrong again there.

sxt

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120789508#Comment_120789508

Yes like i said , he pulled out with injury after he won. I'm not saying injury was a lie. I'm saying if he was happy where he was at,, with contract ,this injury would not have happened, he would have performed like he did when he was winning.

stay with quick step, an easier green jerrsy tour de france win than previous year by far , plus tour stages. Double tour de france Green jersey winner

Moving to Bora is a sell out given his past experience with them as well. Money has motivated him at the expense of achievements

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120789541#Comment_120789541

Injuries are not caused by happiness.

He did not move for money.

You are talking shte either through ignorance or on the wind up so I'm done here.

sxt

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120789584#Comment_120789584

After winning iconic green jersey in tour de france and biggest stage win in cyclng in Paris 2020, Why did he decide to leave quick step?

Nothing to do with money?

retalivity

Think QS were all on an jakobsen, so showing bennett the door was convenient

CramCycle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120789541#Comment_120789541

So you are saying the injury was a lie. It's not like he chose to get injured, it probably hurt his pay cheque to have the injury going over to Bora. He had an injury and like a proper pro, not some amateur schmuck he wanted to recover. Pat who doesn't care about anyone said ride on the injury or F off, Sam quite gentlemanly like kept his cards close to his chest.

He wouldn't have stayed with QS without the injury, another team would have outbid Pat and Pat knows that.

magicbastarder

https://twitter.com/GcnRacing/status/1698986926869561515

...

Paddigol

Great move for him. As in, couldn't have hoped for any higher profile team based on last couple of years. Needs to hit the ground running to avoid the prospect of another TdF omission.

dahat

It’s all about his train line up now, very curious to see how he structures it.

breezy1985

Time to all reacquaint ourselves with the French Cup calendar.

Not sure how good a career move it is but I always liked AG2R so it's a nice fit for me personally.

Macy0161

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121071442#Comment_121071442

Not sure he would've had that many WT offers? AG2R aren't a bad fit - no GC leader that they're going to go all in for. I like Ben O'Connor, but I wouldn't be building a team around him, and takes the pressure off O'Connor if joint leaders with a sprinter.

Lead out (at least Ryan I would imagine, if not the mullet) and bike the next things to watch.

Paddigol

How important is a lead-out 'train' for Sam at this stage? Possibly it's slightly different in the Quickstep environment of years past where the entire team was nearly built around their sprinter, so more time and energy put into selecting it and perfecting performance etc... big pressure then to deliver. Teams seem to be moving away from this a bit, save for maybe Alpecin who have a funny mix, and giving younger lads their shot at GC and stage hunting much earlier in their development than years past.

Sam has failed to deliver with decent trains the past couple of years. But we've also seen that he has that natural sprinting nose to win without much of a train. Maybe time to throw off the pressure shackles and get back to enjoying racing and trusting his natural abilities. I don't think there are any trains out there that he needs to be afraid of, so hope it works out for him.

breezy1985

At least if he doesn't have a sprint train it means his lack of a lead out will be one less rival to worry about.

Junior

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121071462#Comment_121071462

It's already mentioned in the article Mullen is staying at Bora. The Mullet hasn't done lead out in 3 years or more for Sam. And they'll be on Van Reysel Bikes. Decathlon are to replace Citreon.

Macy0161

I actually did here about Decathlon, but totally forgot until now!

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121072655#Comment_121072655

At first the rumour was it was just Van Rysel bikes that would kit them out but that has escalated into a named co-sponsor.

Thud

You’d have to think some/most of Sam’s problem is in his head, could do with having a chat with that fella from the Cav documentary

seaviewphotos

I wish Sam the best of luck in his new team and I'm sure we'll see be back on the top step in 2024.

ottolwinner

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121072314#Comment_121072314

That will be a return for Decathlon bikes to AG2R so. Any of you that have been in the Ballymun store will see Jan Kispuru bike from the tour on the wall.

they had a name for being decrapalong so hopefully they have improved.

CramCycle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121074798#Comment_121074798

Really, I've always heard excellent things from people who buy there regularly.

ottolwinner

I think in general the products there are good. I’m an annual trolley filler myself. But back at a time when decathlon were the bikes for ag2r and we had two Irish riders I worked on the service course at races. There was plenty of cracked frames without crashes back then I think possibly in an effort to explore the possibilities of carbon and the forever search to be the lightest frames.

Seth Brundle

and there we have it...

https://twitter.com/AG2RCITROENTEAM/status/1729095138444730426

beggars_bush

So van rysel bikes then? Interesting

Macy0161

2 year deal is ok, given the last 2 years!

Seth Brundle

I think it's odd that their announcement is with him pictured in his Bora/Speicalized gear.

Macy0161

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121423791#Comment_121423791

Still technically with Bora until 31st December. All the new signings are in their old/ current team kit.

Seth Brundle

they could have used a photo of them in casual gear surely?

ednwireland

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121423620#Comment_121423620

saw one of the French riders at cx yesterday riding one and van rysel kit

Macy0161

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121423915#Comment_121423915

Don't really recall seeing that done, so I assume it is part of the standard contract. Nearest you'll see is EF who kinda colour wash photo's with a pink overlay!