Sam Bennett - no same day spoilers

breezy1985 · 21-06-2021 4:18pm

Dodge wrote: »

Yes to both. Sagan for Green now

2 big records close to being broken are Sean Kellys number of days in GT points jerseys and Merckx stage wins. I can't see Cavendish getting any stage wins but Sagan should take the points record

happytramp · 21-06-2021 4:19pm

That's terrible for him. He must be gutted.

From a personal point of view, the tour has lost about 90% of it's excitement for me now... The excitement from his battle for the green jersey last year was something else.

happytramp · 21-06-2021 4:22pm

God, just saw that Lefevere is saying that his knee is grand and that he's just got preformance anxiety.

Mefistofelino · 21-06-2021 4:27pm

I find it a little odd that someone who hasn't ridden a three week tour since 2018 (and hasn't finished one since 2015), wasn't supposed to be riding the TdF at all - and was told last week that he absolutely, positively wasn't riding it - is now fit enough to go to the Tour.

With all due respect to Sam, a Cav stage win at the Tour would generate far more coverage (and sell far more flooring products) than a Bennett win. I think Lefevre has been fcuking around on the margins with this plan for a while, especially after Sam announced his departure.

happytramp · 21-06-2021 4:35pm

happytramp wrote: »

God, just saw that Lefevere is saying that his knee is grand and that he's just got preformance anxiety.

"I'm starting to think it's more performance anxiety than just pain..... I cannot prove that he does not have knee pain, but I am starting to think more and more that it is more fear of failure than just pain. Yesterday he had to come to Belgium, but then there were problems with his plane again. Then you start to think strange things. He'll have to come anyway. I'm not going to let this pass."

What an utter p**ck.

godtabh · 21-06-2021 4:38pm

happytramp wrote: »

"I'm starting to think it's more performance anxiety than just pain..... I cannot prove that he does not have knee pain, but I am starting to think more and more that it is more fear of failure than just pain. Yesterday he had to come to Belgium, but then there were problems with his plane again. Then you start to think strange things. He'll have to come anyway. I'm not going to let this pass."

What an utter p**ck.

Is he saying Sam is faking it/missing planes on purpose so I put Cav in? I can see it in his mind now. If Cav goes good he's a hero. If Cav goes bad its all Sam's fault for faking it.

Mefistofelino · 21-06-2021 4:40pm

"If i can't have him, then nobody else can. I will break him"

godtabh · 21-06-2021 4:59pm

Mefistofelino wrote: »

"If i can't have him, then nobody else can. I will break him"

Thats another thing. That statement was to get into his head now and the future. Hopefully he proves him wrong.

Dr. Bre · 21-06-2021 5:13pm

He’s definitely not getting Rte sports person of the year

happytramp · 21-06-2021 5:17pm

To be honest, Sam's statement taken with Lefevere's interview makes it seems that even though he's been passed fit to race he has chosen not to go himself. Strange choice not to back himself to get up to speed but the pressure must be extreme and who can blame someone not wanting to put themselves through it.

griffin100 · 21-06-2021 5:43pm

griffin100 wrote: »

Maybe Cav will be selected ahead of him. I wouldn’t put anything past Lefevere.

Told ya!!

I don’t think Cav has a chance of finishing a 3 week tour, but he doesn’t need to. As pointed out above one stage win will be enough.

Lefevere really is a pr1ck. It wasn’t good enough not to renew Sam’s contract, he’s now undermining him and questioning his commitment as he looks for a new team

Eamonnator · 21-06-2021 6:30pm

https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/lefevere-cast-doubts-on-the-severity-of-sam-bennetts-knee-issue/

"It's a shame that a 30 year old doesn't dare to tell the truth."
LeFevere speaking about Sam.
He is a despicable, obnoxious, devious f**ker.

breezy1985 · 21-06-2021 6:35pm

Eamonnator wrote: »

https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/lefevere-cast-doubts-on-the-severity-of-sam-bennetts-knee-issue/

"It's a shame that a 30 year old doesn't dare to tell the truth."
LeFevere speaking about Sam.
He is a despicable, obnoxious, devious f**ker.

He is a knob and I think he pulled the confidence thing before with another rider.
Having watched all the Ronde documentaries the DS Peeters comes across as a bit of a cretin too

CantGetNoSleep · 21-06-2021 7:11pm

Mefistofelino wrote: »

I find it a little odd that someone who hasn't ridden a three week tour since 2018 (and hasn't finished one since 2015), wasn't supposed to be riding the TdF at all - and was told last week that he absolutely, positively wasn't riding it - is now fit enough to go to the Tour.

With all due respect to Sam, a Cav stage win at the Tour would generate far more coverage (and sell far more flooring products) than a Bennett win. I think Lefevre has been fcuking around on the margins with this plan for a while, especially after Sam announced his departure.

Did Sam ever even announce his departure? I haven't heard him say anything about it, just Lefevre in his newspaper columns

happytramp · 21-06-2021 7:22pm

For some reason those seven flat sprint stages aren't quite as appealing as they were yesterday.

TheNah · 21-06-2021 7:30pm

Does anyone else think maybe the whole ‘Cav for the tour’ thing got inside Sam’s head? Maybe it spooked him a bit. Must have increased the pressure on him to perform.

CramCycle · 21-06-2021 8:00pm

TheNah wrote: »

Does anyone else think maybe the whole ‘Cav for the tour’ thing got inside Sam’s head? Maybe it spooked him a bit. Must have increased the pressure on him to perform.

Not at all, no one is expecting anything from Cav, I doubt even Cav is deep down. He will try but unless he gets lucky I don't see it.

wpd · 21-06-2021 8:28pm

apart from "performance anxiety" (which I dont believe) is there any other reason Sam would be chosing not to ride tour?? I can't think of any but wondering if i am missing something.

North of 32 · 21-06-2021 8:55pm

Devastated for Bennett.

He should ring up Roy Keane and have him sort out Lefevere - ''accusing me of faking an injury?''

Lefevere has made it clear - loudly in public - that he feels nothing is owed to Bennett. Bennett is rightfully repaying the sentiment by not risking his health and future prospects for a team that won't pay what he's worth and are looking to offload him. You reap what you sow. Could Bennett struggle through the tour? Probably, but why risk it? Thibaut Pinot comes to mind. He banged his knee and hasn't been the same since.

Quigs Snr · 21-06-2021 9:00pm

Lefevre seems so angry that my first thought was that Sam must have rode his missus.

Sam for his part seems to be making a statement too.. I reckon he'd normally show up with a niggle and try ride himself into it. There's more to this. Its a big deal for a sprinter to walk away from a run at 7 potential tour sprint stages whilst in his prime and sitting at the top of the best lead out train.

this.lad · 21-06-2021 9:05pm

He has changed his picture on twitter to just wearing normal clothes.

That lefevre is a piece of work.

He talks about three different stories about the plane, one of them true, for sure, but calls his honesty into question on the basis that the other two issues may be untrue.

It's a dreadfully dirty way to carry on.

21-06-2021 10:06pm

The guy is like a Mourinho/Trump hybrid. Any victory is obviously solely down to him but a defeat is always someone else's fault.

It's kinda sickening to see how the Belgian media treat him as some sort of god but I guess they know how the game works with regards access to riders etc.

I wouldn't mind seeing Cav win a stage, just not riding for Lefevere.

retalivity · 21-06-2021 10:17pm

CramCycle wrote: »

Not at all, no one is expecting anything from Cav, I doubt even Cav is deep down. He will try but unless he gets lucky I don't see it.

Cav should be leading out Morkov!

21-06-2021 10:18pm

Silver lining I guess is that I can watch the tour stress free now. I'm still not the better of last year

happytramp · 21-06-2021 11:48pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Silver lining I guess is that I can watch the tour stress free now. I'm still not the better of last year

I'm feeling pretty deflated after today's announcement. I know I'll struggle to get excited about it now... What could have been and everything. Debating giving it a miss, watching Ewan mop upsix or seven stages will be too depressing.

Macy0161 · 22-06-2021 9:38am

Not a great look for Sam with Lefevre throwing in him going outside the team for physio though.

If Sam isn't race fit/ still has a niggle, he was really in a no win. Go the Tour not perform or say he's not fit and Lefevre be a untc about it. I really don't see any rider, particularly Sam who essentially moved to do the Tour, turning down the chance if fit and able.

dahat · 22-06-2021 10:23am

I’d say Sam has signed elsewhere & unwilling to commit to the TDF when not 100% especially when he is being crucified on socials/ internet by DQS.

happytramp · 22-06-2021 10:31am

dahat wrote: »

I’d say Sam has signed elsewhere & unwilling to commit to the TDF when not 100% especially when he is being crucified on socials/ internet by DQS.

They we're pretty supportive of him until the announcement.. Lefevere's response has obviously been awful.. But then he's just seen his plans for the tour (multiple stage wins/green jersey) go up in smoke.

CramCycle · 22-06-2021 10:41am

retalivity wrote: »

Cav should be leading out Morkov!

Indeed, and Cav showed he can be a good lead out man in Bahrain, he certainly can still read the road at an insane speed.

dahat · 22-06-2021 10:41am

happytramp wrote: »

They we're pretty supportive of him until the announcement.. Lefevere's response has obviously been awful.. But then he's just seen his plans for the tour (multiple stage wins/green jersey) go up in smoke.

He said weeks ago that Sam was leaving & he wouldn’t match offers to keep him. His conduct publicity in regard to this has been awful.

BoardsMember · 22-06-2021 10:44am

North of 32 wrote: »

Devastated for Bennett.

He should ring up Roy Keane and have him sort out Lefevere - ''accusing me of faking an injury?''

Lefevere has made it clear - loudly in public - that he feels nothing is owed to Bennett. Bennett is rightfully repaying the sentiment by not risking his health and future prospects for a team that won't pay what he's worth and are looking to offload him. You reap what you sow. Could Bennett struggle through the tour? Probably, but why risk it? Thibaut Pinot comes to mind. He banged his knee and hasn't been the same since.

Interesting you mention Roy Keane, wasn't it him that was making a statement in Saipan? And also blamed niggles for not playing for Ireland, albeit in friendlies. Some here suggesting that Sam is making a statement, rather than actually being unfit. Seems a shame to not ride if he could, biggest harm.long term is to his own career honours.

corelokttikka · 22-06-2021 10:47am

Sams no fool. He’s looking after himself and rightfully so. He’s probably fit for tour but has made the decision to not go maybe because he didn’t get what he wanted.

Weepsie · 22-06-2021 10:48am

dahat wrote: »

He said weeks ago that Sam was leaving & he wouldn’t match offers to keep him. His conduct publicity in regard to this has been awful.

He's been like this for years. You sign for Lefevre and DQS you know to what to expect.

marvin80 · 22-06-2021 10:52am

corelokttikka wrote: »

He’s probably fit for tour but has made the decision to not go maybe because he didn’t get what he wanted.

I'd find that hard to believe. He left Bora because he wasn't getting a shot at the Tour. He went there last year and won the green jersey. In good form and surrounded by a strong team again and if he wins it again it increases his value and bargaining power for a new contract/team.

I'm sure he's fully aware how sprinters fare once they leave Quickstep as well so passing an opportunity like the Tour would be naïve.

Macy0161 · 22-06-2021 11:02am

I really don't buy him being fit, and saying he isn't to skip the tour, to be honest.

Dodge · 22-06-2021 11:33am

Macy0161 wrote: »

I really don't buy him being fit, and saying he isn't to skip the tour, to be honest.

Literally the only reason he moved from Bora was to ride the tour. There’s zero chance he opted out of it if fit

happytramp · 22-06-2021 2:13pm

Dodge wrote: »

Literally the only reason he moved from Bora was to ride the tour. There’s zero chance he opted out of it if fit

Lefevere thinks he is fit. Sam doesn't. It's probably as simple as that. Lefevere's public response, insinuating that Sam is lying and calling mental fortitude into question is despicable... But not surprising given his history of turning on his riders once they're no longer of use to him.

Junior · 22-06-2021 3:04pm

Lefevere has said on the Injury in the past while "it will need surgery" "he will be back on the bike in a week" and now "he's faking it"

breezy1985 · 22-06-2021 3:09pm

happytramp wrote: »

Lefevere thinks he is fit. Sam doesn't. It's probably as simple as that. Lefevere's public response, insinuating that Sam is lying and calling mental fortitude into question is despicable... But not surprising given his history of turning on his riders once they're no longer of use to him.

Quite possible he was told to take a bunch of painkillers and ride into form which is pretty common in cycling

Dodge · 22-06-2021 3:16pm

happytramp wrote: »

Lefevere thinks he is fit. Sam doesn't. It's probably as simple as that.

Lefevere saying he’s fit, and Lefevere thinking he’s fit aren’t necessarily the same thing

wpd · 22-06-2021 3:36pm

Sam saying his knee is okay now but he fears that due to lack of training he would not get through first week of tour and may damage knee and affect his future career doing so, this summation is taken from interview piece with Sam on Stickybottle

I think I can understand now why Lefevere is saying what he is, seems Sam could start but doesnt want to

MPFGLB · 22-06-2021 5:16pm

Why would Sam Bennett go unfit to the Tour ?

This idea of riding into fitness is a bit of a fable...If you are already fit you can get a bit better or race fit with some miles..but that is not everyone by a long shot..most riders get more tired

But if you are unfit then you are going no where ...Sam may not even finish the first week
The level of fitness you have to have just to complete the stages is unreal

So he rides around France at the back ...He is a sprinter ...he doesn't get sprint fit climbing mountains.

better train for goals he can win in the future than going through the motions at the Tour

Mind you he will need to ride the Vuelta ...hope DQS let him
He will need the miles in his legs for next season's Tour

wpd · 22-06-2021 5:22pm

MPFGLB wrote: »

Why would Sam Bennett go unfit to the Tour ?

This idea of riding into fitness is a bit of a fable...If you are already fit you can get a bit better or race fit with some miles..but that is not everyone by a long shot..most riders get more tired

But if you are unfit then you are going no where ...Sam may not even finish the first week
The level of fitness you have to have just to complete the stages is unreal

So he rides around France at the back ...He is a sprinter ...he doesn't get sprint fit climbing mountains.

better train for goals he can win in the future than going through the motions at the Tour

Mind you he will need to ride the Vuelta ...hope DQS let him
He will need the miles in his legs for next season's Tour

If I was his employer paying a big salary I would feel very different, the chance that he could come good after a week and win some stages would be the employers focus

PatM65 · 22-06-2021 5:40pm

wpd wrote: »

If I was his employer paying a big salary I would feel very different, the chance that he could come good after a week and win some stages would be the employers focus

Whereas Sam's focus would be "I might have to climb off less than a week into this race and have done long term damage to my knee! "

wpd · 22-06-2021 9:19pm

PatM65 wrote: »

Whereas Sam's focus would be "I might have to climb off less than a week into this race and have done long term damage to my knee! "

Yes would seem to be the case and given his knee injury history would seem to be the sensible decision

I wonder if he had not been changing teams would the pressure have forced him to ride?

MPFGLB · 22-06-2021 11:37pm

wpd wrote: »

If I was his employer paying a big salary I would feel very different, the chance that he could come good after a week and win some stages would be the employers focus

I dont think you even read what I wrote

happytramp · 23-06-2021 12:47am

MPFGLB wrote: »

I dont think you even read what I wrote

Well, to be fair, it's possible that they did and just don't agree with you.

wpd · 23-06-2021 9:19am

MPFGLB wrote: »

I dont think you even read what I wrote

from your rude comment its easy to see you didnt read what i wrote

23-06-2021 10:22pm

I see both Sean Kelly and Chris Horner think Patrick is a tool and just having a dig because Sam is leaving the team.

CramCycle · 23-06-2021 11:10pm

Deleted User wrote: »

I see both Sean Kelly and Chris Horner think Patrick is a tool and just having a dig because Sam is leaving the team.

This and he is protecting himself, his plan A is gone, his plan B which would have been any of his lead out men seems untenable possibly due to pressure from sponsors or something. So he is now riding a lead sprinter who realistically is going to place but not high up, and if his lead out men are in form, are likely to accidentally beat their sprinter across the line unless they go really early.

Sam Bennett - no same day spoilers

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