Sam Bennett rewards his team with second stage win on a hectic day in Provence: "My team-mates had to redouble their efforts today"
Cycling
Sam Bennett started the 2025 season in style with two sprint triumphs at the Tour de la Provence. The Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale fast man proved to be unmatched at the French race with a dominant victory ahead of Max Kanter and Emilien Jeanniere.
"It was a tough day of racing," Bennett exhales after the finish of final stage of the 2025 Tour de la Provence in a press release from his team.
A strong breakaway, which included Spanish rider Raúl García Pierna (Arkéa - B&B Hotels) - the sixth man in the general classification, had all the motivation needed to complicate things for sprinter teams, including Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale working for Sam Bennett.
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"The leading group had a big lead and the riders in the breakaway were fighting for the overall classification. What's more, the wind was strong, making it difficult to catch them. My team-mates had to redouble their efforts and did an excellent job of controlling the race and bringing me back to the front of the pack at a crucial moment."
Eventually, the front group fell apart and everything seemed ready for the final sprint. However things weren't as straightforward with a major crash of Pascal Ackermann. Luckily for Bennett, his teammates did a great job to place him at the very front, right behind the strong sprint train of XDS Astana. The Irishman proved to be the faster against Max Kanter and therefore secured his second stage win in Provence.
"The last three kilometers required an intense effort. In the end, I was able to launch my sprint from the back with speed to take the win. It's a very good result and I'm happy with what the team and I achieved over the race weekend."
Next race for the 34-year-old Bennett will be Tirreno-Adriatico in three weeks' time. The traditional Italian stage race will serve as an appetizer before Bennett's intended participation at the Giro d'Italia. He'll attempt to add to his three victories from 2018 this May.
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