"I’m not a normal sprinter. I have to build the engine up first” - Sam Bennett hoping to peak at the Tour de France

Over the years, BORA - hansgrohe's Sam Bennett has sprinted his way to 10 Grand Tour stage wins, including two at the Tour de France. Taking part in this year's Critérium du Dauphiné, Bennett once again hopes to peak on the biggest stage.

"I’ve only just started a training program that I know works for me. I haven’t been able to do it the last year and a half, so when I was asked about altitude I wanted to just keep the training going and keep the rhythm going," the 32-year-old tells the Irish Independent. "I think now, going into the Dauphine, getting another kicking, that should leave me there or thereabouts. I’ll be ready then.”

Set to race the Tour de France for just the fourth time in his career, Bennett hopes a successful Dauphine could be the perfect race to fine-tune his sprinting, ready for the biggest race on the cycling calendar. "The Dauphine is something that will turn you inside out and you’ll find form somewhere on the road,” he explains. “If you look down the start list there might be one other sprinter here. There might be one chance of a sprint and I’m hoping I’m going to be good enough for it but, if not, I won’t be coming home empty-handed. I’ll be building a lot of form here.”

“The last five Grand Tours I’ve done, I’ve always won a stage, if not multiple stages. In theory, I don’t need to be ready for another month but it feels like I really have to prove myself beforehand this year because I was supposed to do the Tour the last two years," Bennett continues. “It’s mad because I didn’t have the form last year and, this year, I’m just having bad luck. It doesn’t look great but that’s sport isn’t it? There’s ups and downs but it’ll break and come right. I’ve put in too much work for that not to happen.”