"Sometimes I’d nearly prefer if I didn’t know anyone" - Sam Bennett believes friendships in the peloton lead to less aggressive sprinting behaviour

Sam Bennett is having a big ambitious season, and in a recent interview he talked about some of the behind the scenes in the peloton and what it means to his capacity of taking part in the sprints.

“I knew I’d come back. It was just a case of when. It wasn’t that I got lucky in the sprints, I really dominated them," Bennett recalls on the Vuelta a Espana in an interview with Cyclingnews. He's talked about his issues whilst ending his contract with Soudal - Quick-Step and how he struggled through the first half of 2022 due to injuries.

Bennett, a resident in Monaco, explains how he frequently talks or hangs out with several of the other sprinters in the peloton. A tricky situation, specially as on the road it is quite usual in the bunch sprints to bump shoulders and have the adrenaline flow, far from the ideal scenario to make friends.

“When you get older in this sport, you end up getting friendly with a lot more people. Before, there might have been some riders you didn’t know at all, but you kind of ‘hated’ them just because you ended up fighting for the same wheels or whatever," he explains. "But when you know more people, it’s harder to be an asshole. Sometimes I’d nearly prefer if I didn’t know anyone."

Nevertheless Bennett started is year at the Vuelta a San Juan where he took a stage win. “This year maybe I have a lot to prove, but normally it doesn’t affect me at all," he concluded. His UAE Tour and Paris-Nice didn't see him bring in a win, but throughout the spring he will continue to have some opportunities.