Sam Bennett admits he lacks few extra hours in the gym in his prep: "I need a few weeks, months to get to that peak"

Despite 22 racedays in his legs, Sam Bennett is still waiting for his first victory in 2024. Once the world's fastest man, the Irishman had been struggling to find his best self for a bit now. Upon joining the ambitious Decathlon AG2R before this season, the 33-year-old believes he's on a good track to raise his hands again at the Tour de France in summer.

"I haven’t had the time I needed to get the gym work done this off-season," Bennett recently admitted to GCN. "I needed a bit more, but I think my engine is stronger, the weight is about the same but with the peak power I just have to get back to the gym. I need a few weeks, months to get that peak to where I need it. It’s not far off."

"It was changing teams, getting to know the strength and conditioning coach, the normal coaches, getting my programme, getting everything ready. The season came quicker than I wanted! It will come definitely by May, but I just haven’t had the time to do it. That’s the one thing that got away from me and the one thing I need."

"We have fantastic bikes with Van Rysel and the team has been really professional and really on it. Sometimes people say that French teams are more old school, but they’re really on it here. They’re really up with the latest tech, with the marginal gains and it is great to see. I know I can get the best out of myself in this team."