Former green jersey at the Tour de France eyeing return following favourable route

The Tour de France route in 2023 will be favourable for the climbers when it comes to the overall classification. Although the profiles have not been fully revealed, the map indicates several stages for the sprinters, which has attracted former green jersey winner Sam Bennett.

”There seems to be eight sprint stages. That makes me motivated to get back on the bike," Bennett said in an interview with The Irish Times. The BORA - hansgrohe rider won the green jersey back in 2020 with Quick-Step, winning two stages. Ever since he has not had an easy time in the Grand Tours, missing all in 2021 due to a knee injury and tensions with Patrick Lefevere.

In 2022 he did not have the form and opted out of the Tour. Despite not having the same climbing legs, he took to the Vuelta a Espana where he won two stages but was forced to abandon at the start of the second week. An aggressive performance and third position at Paris-Tours on his final day of the season however was the Irishman's best display of the season and showed form he was yet to have since returning to the German team.

”Hopefully I make my return after…it’s going to be three years, actually,” he continued “So that would be my target. I don’t know if that’s what the team wants next season, but hopefully our ambitions line up."

The profles are yet to be revealed, but Bennett shows excitement over the prospect of a return: "Eight stages create a lot of opportunities. That means also that that should make the fight for a green jersey more suited to a sprinter."

And the green jersey, which he seeks to recover, is within plans aswell. ”It will still be something that would be very difficult to get but it will be class to get back to the Tour de France and to win at the highest level again. So that would be the aim," he concluded.