Former Tour de France regular Walter Bénéteau has been found dead in a hotel room in Bali, Indonesia aged just 50. At this time the circumstances around the former cycling pro's death are still unclear.
Bénéteau rode seven consecutive Tour de France's between 2000 and 2006 under the banner of Jean-René Bernaudeau's team that has since developed into Team TotalEnergies. Despite not managing to achieve his dream of winning a stage, Bénéteau was regularly seen in breakaways and towards the front of the race.
Finishing 2nd at the 2001 French National Championships, Bénéteau achieved two career victories, both at the Boucles de l'Aulne - GP Le Télégramme in 2000 and 2003. After retiring in 2006, Bénéteau moved to a behind-the-scenes role, working for both TotalEnergies and B&B Hotels, working in a PR capacity.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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Brucegel14-11-2026 - I live in Maribor.PogiSloFans14-11-2026
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C'est avec une profonde tristesse que nous venons d'apprendre le décès de Walter Bénéteau. Il était un coureur au grand cœur qui faisait partie de la famille du Team. Il restera à jamais dans nos mémoires. L’équipe présente ses sincères condoléances à sa famille et ses proches.
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