Three-time stage winner Sam Bennett returns to Giro d'Italia as Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale confirm Grand Tour lineup
Cycling
With the 2025 Giro d'Italia now just days away, the Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team have become the latest to confirm their roster for the opening Grand Tour of the 2025 season. Leading the way, is three-time Giro stage winner Sam Bennett, back at the Corsa Rosa for the first time since 2018.
The Irish sprinter has proven pedigree in winning Grand Tour stages, although admittedly not for some years - his last Grand Tour victory coming in the form of a brace of stages at the 2022 Vuelta a Espana. Over the last couple of seasons, since joining the Decathlon AG2R La Monidale Team however, Bennett has re-found some winning form, adding nine victories to his palmares since joining the French-based outfit, including four already in 2025.
"I'm very happy to be back in Italy, where I have so many fond memories. The last time I took part in the Giro d'Italia, I was very successful, and I hope to build on that success," previews Bennett in a press release to the team's official website. "With three flat stages in the first week, there will be opportunities for victory. We have a very good team for the sprints, with the train that enabled me to win this year. On the more difficult days, with a reduced group, Dorian (Godon) and Andrea (Vendrame) can still be there and make their speed count. I also have the points jersey in mind, but the priority remains winning stages. We can't leave the Giro without winning a stage."
Joining Bennett in a stage hunting team, two-time Giro stage winner Andrea Vendrame, who triumphed on stage 19 of the race in 2024 returns to his home Grand Tour. French trio Dorian Godon, Geoffrey Bouchard and Nicolas Prodhomme, the latter of whom heads to the startline fresh off the back of winning a stage of the recent Tour of the Alps, are also Giro bound. As are the experienced Belgain pair Stan Dewulf and Dries de Bondt, with 23-year-old Norwegian Tord Gudmestad completing the team's Grand Tour lineup.
"The main objective for this Giro d'Italia will be to take a stage win. There will be plenty of opportunities for Sam (Bennett) in the sprint. In the smaller finishes, we'll be able to count on riders like Andrea (Vendrame) and Dorian (Godon)," adds DS Luke Roberts. "For the mountain stages, the aim will be to place Nicolas (Prodhomme) and Geoffrey (Bouchard) in the breakaways to aim for victory. If everything goes well with Sam, the points jersey may become an objective, but the priority remains to land stage wins."
Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team for the 2025 Giro d'Italia
Sam Bennett
Dorian Godon
Geoffrey Bouchard
Andrea Vendrame
Dries de Bondt
Stan Dewulf
Tord Gudmestad
Nicolas Prodhomme
Dorian Godon
Geoffrey Bouchard
Andrea Vendrame
Dries de Bondt
Stan Dewulf
Tord Gudmestad
Nicolas Prodhomme
🇮🇹 @giroditalia
— DECATHLON AG2R LA MONDIALE TEAM (@decathlonAG2RLM) May 6, 2025
📅 09.05 - 01.06
🇮🇪 @Sammmy_Be
🇫🇷 @GeoffBouche
🇧🇪 @Bondteke
🇧🇪 @Stan_Dewulf1
🇫🇷 @DorianGodon
🇳🇴 @TordGudmestad
🇫🇷 @NicoProdhomme
🇮🇹 Andrea Vendrame
💗 Amore Infinito#DECATHLONAG2RLAMONDIALETEAM @decathlonitalia @AG2RLAMONDIALE @van_rysel pic.twitter.com/BE6oEze2J6
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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