"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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- Eeesh!Lozza02-11-2026
- bravo! a rider likes jonas needs motivation and he needs to believe in being able to reach goals. he - like anybody else in the world - doesn't believe that he can win the tdf with pogi present. and what's it worth for when pogi is not there? second class victory only. he has checked all three grand tours, so what is left if not retire? the classics! go for it, jonas!Ketterechts02-11-2026
- i am sure that under the pretext of medical examination a lot worse has happened when they were under.abstractengineer02-11-2026
- dude, Lemond never even was in the same race as Armstrong. He throws all these aspersions on other American riders who might usurp his throne as the greatest ever American racer. He doesn't say a single thing about (foreign) dopers who he actually raced against. Biggest douchebag move ever. I used to revere that guy, now I despise him. His actions are so weird.fatsupermodel02-11-2026
- This is just stupid, You do what you are good at not what you are weak at. He has no results to speak of when he participated. Even Froome, Conatdor had very little. With Pogi there he wont win none of the classics. he is already 30+ with a few years left at the top. It takes years to get good at classics. Is that really worth the effort???abstractengineer02-11-2026
- Sure, little fella.awp02-11-2026
- You'll be the ongoing joke of 2027 with anything you post here!frieders302-11-2026
- Awwww your inside information must be from PogiFanGirl. You two daughters of different mothers?frieders302-11-2026
- Hey PogIFanGirl...wipe that cream from your lips! You're ever loving drooling and whatever you have for Tadej has your brain fried!frieders302-11-2026
- Why should he 'let it go' ! Because you said so? Anytime LA Doper is called out is a win win !frieders302-11-2026
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