No racing in sight for Sam Bennett - Irishman forced to take over a month off the bike after diagnosis of heart condition
Cycling
A few months ago, it was feared that Sam Bennett's career may come to an end, after a few difficult years. Following two seasons with Decathlon CMA CGM Team, he signed a one-year deal with Tom Pidcock's Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team in hopes of reviving his career. However, in November Bennett was diagnosed with a heart condition, and has only recently resumed training.
Bennett was diagnosed with Atrial fibrillation, a hearth rhythm condition which affects the beating of the heart, making it irregular and faster in sporadic moments. This poses a risk to the Irishman's health, however it does not force him to retire from the sport, specially as it was diagnosed early on and before serious complications emerged. However, due to it being connected to the heart, it was mandatory for the necessary actions to be taken, which for a starters involved over a month off the bike.
He underwent a medical procedure, ablation, and has been cleared to get back on the bike right before the start of 2026. Team doctor Lorenz Emmert has said in a press release: “After the ablation and completing all necessary medical checks the athlete was cleared to progressively resume training. The return to activity has been structured, gradual, and closely monitored at every stage, fully in line with medical protocols.”
This does of course mean his season start will be delayed, and for the time being can't be planned. The 35-year old might have the chance to choose his Grand Tour participation if he has the form, but it will be necessary to take it step by step for the time being. “Seeing Sam back in training is the most important and positive sign,” Doug Ryder, team manager, assured. “He approached the process with patience and professionalism, and the team supported him at every step. We remain fully behind him—first as a person, then as a rider.”
Bennett during the 2025 season
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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