"To do it for six hours... and to still be like 50th" - Il Lombardia rider stunned that highest average power of his career not close to victory
Cycling
New Zealand national champion George Bennett drove the best six-hour power of his career at Il Lombardia on Saturday. However, he's been left stunned after the best numbers he's ever produced was only enough to finish 26th place in Como.
The NSN rider was part of a strong breakaway that led the race most of the 239-kilometre monument, but were ultimately caught before Paul Seixas's stunning seated attack blew the race apart as the 20-year-old powered to a first monument win of his career.
Bennett finished 4:52 behind Seixas with Ben O'Connor and Syvain Moniquet from their day in the break. Speaking after the race, he revealed that the day didn't only feel like the hardest of his career, but by numbers, it was officially the most he's put down.
"Biggest day out I’ve ever had, genuine. Numerically, that was ridiculous," he told Cyclingnews.
With the wind meaning that only the strongest riders got up the road in the early stages of the classic, demanding early climbs also played a role in establishing a high-pace break as the group worked well together.
Bennett leads the Kiwi contingent at the 2026 Tour
"It was probably the best breakaway I’ve ever been in"
With committed allies at the front, Bennett summed it up as the best break he'd been in - yet it still got eclipsed in the finale.
"We just had a really really strong breakaway. It was so hard with the wind so it was basically only top riders in there, and we just pulled all day. Nobody did one soft pull – except for Campenaerts, he sat on for 100k, but then even he started pulling really hard.
"Everyone just committed so hard. It was probably the best breakaway I’ve ever been in, in terms of cohesion and everything like that. Man, we got far but we decimated as well."
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Best average power of his career
In terms of average power, Bennett claims he has never sustained that amount for six hours in training or racing. Describing the race as his favourite of the year, the praised the quality of race and the fans.
“Never done that average. I’ve had bigger peaks before. But the average of that… honestly sometimes in Andorra I do hit that with tempo efforts, but to do it for six hours… and to still be like 50th [he finished in 26th place at Il Lombardia, Ed.].
"I really enjoyed it. This is my favourite race of the year. I always feel good here, and I love racing here. These Italian Classics are for me the best races of year. They’re real racing. You need good legs, but they’re super technical, tactical, you need to be a racer as well. And the fans are just the best here."
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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- I think he does or goes to whichever team gives him the scope to become the rider everyone thinks he'll be when Tadej stops.. that simpleslappers6612-10-2026
- I remember at one time he was mentioned in the same breath as Seixas. no more. Onley has a lot of work to do to be deserving of that.mij12-10-2026
- I hope he goes to Bahrain-Victorious to mentor Jakob
Rafionain-Glas12-10-2026 - I hope he stays! Cycling is more fun with Primoz, even if he is not winning.mij12-10-2026
- yes for sure, there will be more chances for him at Euro than Lombardia. I wonder if that emotion wasn't also because he knows he has now been eclipsed by a younger rider w/o his goals being checked off. At least when Seixas over takes Tadej someday, Tadej will have accomplished his major goals. He still has Roubaix left, but Seixas isn't a threat there. And he should find a year to get Vuelta. Remco now is behind at least 2 riders w/o ever having won a Tour, one monument to his name, and the next few World Championships are not Remco friendly. I would still take Remco's wins though!!!mij12-10-2026
- Remco was at 100%. He raced as expected: 15th best on the climbs and then best in the sprint of the chasing group. Exactly what he did at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, where he was on similar form. His win in Amstel was comparable to Quebec or the EurosRafionain-Glas12-10-2026
- "inside the tent pissing out" is an idiom based on a quote from President Lyndon Johnson. Not sure if you're saying you don't understand the term. The full phrase is "it's probably better to have him inside the tent pissing out, than outside the tent pissing in."wrsty12-10-2026
- Pissing out?? Who is forcing them? They can follow Ayuso's example. And they can be leaders on another team. Ayuso's example again. :)MajorPayne12-10-2026
- Hmm it's an interesting take with certain disclaimers e.g. comparing them at the same age (Pogi wasn't given chances so early in his career so we will never know), the level of the competitors in the race or tour (really hard to compare, as you would be looking at multiple competitors, let alone comparing just Seixas vs Pogi). In any case, Seixas' future certainly looks very bright, especially as he has the advantage of youth, access to new scientific knowledge/methods that weren't around when Pogi started, and most importantly has Pogi as an extremely good example to aspire to (e.g. copying training methods, nutrition, tactics, race craft, etc., to list just a few...).Pogboom12-10-2026
- > He’s so much better than Pogacar was at 20 years old It does not mean NOTHING. What is important how long you can be at the top. Most of the best riders are (really) good for 4-5 years (Alaphilippe, Sagan), of course outside this window you can win stages etc. but forget about GC winner in main tours. Talents like Pogacar (in case of GC) or MvdP (monuments or CX - 15 years being on top!!!) are rarity. It might be that if you start being good fast, you end up being good still young.averagecyclist12-10-2026
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