"The last sprint is also the easiest because you know that then it's all over" - Sam Bennett already dreams of Rome
Cycling
The sprinter field in Rome will be rather modest - many fast men have given up over the course of past three weeks. It's normal process. But Sam Bennett already looks forward to the sweet reward that will be one last bunch sprint in the capital of Italy.
Ten Grand Tours under his belt, what are Bennett's tip to get through the whole racing block without giving up? "I just have to break the race down into stages, looking day by day," he tells Bici.pro. Then you have to climb the mountains and survive, it's difficult but it's part of cycling."
Is it more of a physical or mental challenge? "At the moment I answer the physical one. In these days I had a difficult time, especially in the Asiago stage. In fact the last day of rest came at the right time. Now I feel better."
"I have experience now, I have faced many Grand Tours and I have had difficult moments in each of them. One thing I have understood is that it does not matter how much I am suffering, there is little to do. You have to stay focused and it will pass. The climbs are difficult but they are part of the race, you have to understand if the legs can keep up the pace or not."
Bennett also knows that riding at his own pace can be more important than trying to hang on to faster group in the mountains. "Never panic. No matter where you are in the group or how much pain you are in or how tired you are, never panic. Because you will always find a way out."
Looking ahead to the final stage of Giro d'Italia, what are the specifics? "Tactically it's difficult because everyone wants to win. But from a certain point of view the last sprint is also the easiest because you know that then it's all over and you can relax," he says.
Ultimately, there's no reason to hold back anymore. After all the end of the three-week long suffering awaits at the finish line. "Even if you have many kilometers in your legs and a lot of fatigue you always manage to bring out the best. The level is not high because not everyone arrives in perfect shape at the end. The legs count but also the head: just turn off the brain for the head will give up a thousand times before the body."
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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