"The though of work in an office is the scariest thing": George Bennett admits he can't imagine his life without bike
Cycling
George Bennett's been through more than one hardship in 2025, but this year seems to be an opportunity to write a new chapter. Heading into the New Zeland's National Championships race, Bennett was not the biggest favourite, however the race played out in his favor and thus the 35-year-old will get the honor of wearing the special jersey for the second time in 5 years.
The Nationals were also Bennett's final race of the early-season block which included races in Australia. His next known appointment is the Volta a Catulunya at the end of March, however Bennett expects to be at the start of either Trofeo Laigueglia or Strade Bianche already at the beginning of his European campaign.
"The big block for me starts when I go to Europe, doing altitude camp, and then we're really going to focus on the spring, so it's been intentionally dialled back," Bennett told Cyclingnews. After Catalunya, Bennett is likely to compete in Ardennes before wrapping up the spring at the Tour de Romandie.
"It's a new approach and of course, you're so motivated when you start back on the bike that you want to train really hard but it's been quite deliberate to actually just rein it in a bit," said Bennett. "It's a long block, so you can't be tired before you get there."
New year, new start
Bennett has been long looking to turn a page in 2026. And with the national title, his cyclist spirit is buzzing to get stuck in the thick of action while sporting the typical Kiwi black-and-white colours throughout the season.
"I'm more motivated than I've been in the past. I think I have a good appreciation for how much of a privilege it is to be a bike racer," said Bennett. "I think just being in a nice team, nice environment, good guys, you want to be around them, you want to perform for your teammates and for the staff. I think that helps a lot. Maybe I've got past a lot of the stresses of what it used to be, and I find it a really enjoyable thing to do."
George Bennett alongside New Zealand's 2024 champion Aaron Gate
Bennett has definitely entered the period of his career when he is looked up to as one of the most experienced riders in NSN Cycling Team, as the 35-year-old enters his 15th season in professional peloton.
The years in the peloton may be accumulating, but there is certainly no sense that Bennett is marking time. "I know the years are limited. Maybe I've only got three more years or something, so you start thinking - OK, I need to enjoy these."
He then looks further ahead, but an idea of a regular 9-5 job doesn't sit well with Bennett after having spent his entire life travelling with his bicycle: "I guess, I don't think about it too much, and just enjoy that I'm here and focus on the processes… it fits my personality, of ticking the boxes, and the thought of going to work in an office is the scariest thing in the world."
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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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- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
- Yeah man...PogiSloFans07-11-2026
- any rider less than 25 whether they are really ready for the position of leadership of GT is probably not the case. I think Pogi himself suffered when he was defeated by Jonas in the TDF twice. But that would be the team's job to ensure support so that they can bounce back. It requires a team and time to get back up and win after getting knocked down.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I'm very glad he got the big late Quickstep Vuelta win and I hope he has a few left for Euskaltel-Euskadi.flyer07-11-2026
- My memories of Ivan Basso aren't good but I liked his sister Elisa ok.flyer07-11-2026
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