Sam Bennett is back! 10-time Grand Tour stage winner returns to racing for first time since heart procedure with Nokere Koerse comeback

Sam Bennett will return to racing on Wednesday at Nokere Koerse, marking the Irish sprinter’s first appearance in the peloton since undergoing a cardiac procedure late last year. The Belgian semi-classic, therefore, becomes more than a routine early-season race. For the 10-time Grand Tour stage winner, it is the first real test of his condition after months spent rebuilding fitness and carefully working his way back to full training.

Bennett’s comeback also marks his debut for the Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team, the squad he joined over the winter. The road back to racing began after he underwent cardiac ablation on 18 November 2025, forcing him to spend the final weeks of the year focused purely on recovery before gradually returning to training during the early months of 2026.

Speaking ahead of his return in a press release, Bennett explained that rebuilding his condition after the procedure required patience as his body adapted again to the demands of professional cycling. “Once I got a certain amount into recovery for the heart, the fitness actually progressed quite quickly. But what I noticed was that it felt like training an injured muscle again, like any other muscle in the body.”

The process, he said, felt less like a conventional winter build and more like learning to extend his limits step by step as the months passed. “I was describing it recently like this: you push to a limit, that becomes the normal zone, and then you push to the next limit. It was really like retraining the heart gradually.”

Although Bennett says his general condition has returned to a strong level, he acknowledges that the highest intensity efforts still require time to come back fully. “My general fitness is very good - the base and the zone two work feel normal again. What still needs time are the repeated high efforts and time in VO2 max. That’s something you can’t rush.”

That makes Nokere Koerse a natural starting point for his season. The 186.4-kilometre race from Deinze to Nokere is known for its aggressive racing and cobbled uphill finish, a style of racing very different from the warmer stage races that usually mark the beginning of Bennett’s season. “This race will be exciting because it’s a chance to see where I am. It’s a learning curve - to understand what’s good, what’s not good and what I still need to work on.”

Even the timing of the comeback feels unusual to the Irishman, who typically begins his season much earlier in the year. “It’s strange to have the nerves of the first race of the season this late in March, but I’m excited. Nervous as well - in a good way - and really looking forward to racing again.”

Starting the year in Belgium brings its own challenges. “Normally, the first races are further south, but Belgium is aggressive racing with a lot of accelerations. It’s a different style, but I’m excited for it.”

While Bennett’s return naturally draws attention, Pinarello Q36.5 will approach the race with Matteo Moschetti as its primary sprint option. The Italian finished second in last year’s edition after surviving the selective finale.

Bennett himself is comfortable taking a more open role as he works his way back into competition. “Matteo had a fantastic result there last year, and he’s been very strong at the start of the season, so he deserves the team’s support for this race,” he explains. “For me, it’s more of a wildcard - to test the water, race on instinct and see where I am. I just want the freedom to race naturally and see what happens.”

After months spent rebuilding fitness away from the race environment, the simple act of returning to competition is something Bennett says he has been looking forward to. “It will be really nice to race with the guys and properly be part of the team. Everyone has been incredibly supportive, but until you train and race together, you’re still watching a bit from the sidelines.”

With his comeback now underway, the coming weeks will provide a clearer picture of Bennett’s condition as he continues his gradual return to full racing intensity with his new team.