George Bennett regarding Tadej Pogačar: "I’m looking forward to not having to chase him down"

After seven seasons with the Dutch Jumbo - Visma squad, George Bennett is having a change of environment after having signed with rival team UAE Team Emirates where he is outlined to be one of Tadej Pogačar's main domestiques for the year.

"After the UAE Tour I’m back home in Andorra for three weeks before the Volta a Catalunya and then it’s almost straight into the Tour of the Basque Country. From there, I’ll take on the Ardennes classics for the first time, which I’m excited about," Bennett said in an interview with rouleur regarding his calendar in the upcoming months.

"It’s then onto the [Critérium du] Dauphiné. After, hopefully it’s the Tour de France. It’s never locked in this early but I’ll throw my hat into the ring. As for the end of the year, we have a lot of stuff pencilled in but you can take that with a pinch of salt in February."

Over the years Bennett solidified himself as one of the most talented pure climbers in the peloton, taking the overall at the Amgen Tour of California and the Gran Piemonte classic as prime wins, but most importantly asserting a predominant supporting role for the likes of Primož Roglič and Steven Kruijswijk, whilst at the same time getting freedom to purse his own goals which have led him to several strong results in World Tour stage-races, and came close to conquering his first monument at Il Lombardia 2020 where he finished second. Now, he embarks on a new journey, albeit with similar goals.

"I haven’t ridden with Tadej yet but I’ve ridden against him, of course, many times. I’m looking forward to not having to chase him down. He’ll be at the UAE Tour, so I’ll get to know him more there in what is an important race for us. It’s a privilege shifting between the two best riders in the world when it comes to GC. Mind you, the difference between them is often the difference between the helpers, so I have an important role. I’d say Jumbo-Visma’s a little weaker now and UAE a little stronger. As a cycling fan, I’m looking forward to the battle."