Irish sprinter Sam Bennett will lastly make his long-anticipated return to the Tour de France this summer season, 4 years after he final took half in biking’s greatest stage race.
Bennett, 33, will type a part of the Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale lineup for the Tour, it was confirmed on Monday, in a squad that has each GC and stage win ambitions.
Austrian Felix Gall, the winner of the ultra-difficult Col de la Loze stage in final yr’s Tour can be looking for to construct on his eighth place general in 2023, whereas not too long ago topped French Nationwide Champion Paul Lapeira can be all the way down to make his debut within the race.
Surprisingly, Benoît Cosnefroy is lacking from the roster of Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale this July, as he prefers to arrange for the Olympic Video games with out racing the Tour first. It will likely be the primary time Cosnefroy, the winner of six races this season, has not taken half in his house Grand Tour since 2018.
Bennett’s affirmation for the Tour sees the Irishman return to a race the place he claimed two stage wins and the factors jersey in 2020. Nonetheless, he was not chosen in 2021 by his then group, Deceuninck-QuickStep and a return to former squad Bora-Hansgrohe in 2022 and 2023 once more noticed him miss out on the Tour.
Having switched to Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale, Bennett took a surprising 4 stage wins and the general on the 4 Jours de Dunkerque. He additionally narrowly missed out on claiming a victory within the opening leg of the Critérium du Dauphiné and is now confirmed for the Tour.
“I am delighted to return to the Tour de France after a four-year absence,” Bennett mentioned in a group press launch. “I might prefer to thank the group for this unbelievable alternative. Coming again to the Grande Boucle with a French group is a particular feeling. To win a stage for this group on the earth’s best race could be much more particular! ”
“I’ve obtained loads of time to get into the race, as the beginning is hilly. Nonetheless, each stage is essential, the primary alternative will come after the opening weekend, and I hope to be prepared for that. There needs to be eight large sprints with numerous contenders. I am trying ahead to the struggle.”
In a roster filled with one-day racers and breakaway expertise, 2020 Tour de France Pyrenean stage winner Nans Peters can be collaborating, together with Classics specialists Dorian Godon and Oliver Naesen. Decathlon have chosen Bruno Armirail to defend their pursuits within the time trial levels. Armirail conquered the French Nationwide Time Trial title for a second time in his profession final Thursday, briefly led the Giro d’Italia final yr and got here inside a whisker of clinching a Critérium du Dauphiné stage in an uphill end only a few weeks in the past.
After a dramatic uptick in victories this yr, with 26 up to now in comparison with 9 for the entire 2023, Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale will face significantly heightened expectations this summer season in July, as they hunt for the twenty third stage win and extra of their group historical past.
“We now have a twofold goal going into this Tour de France” mentioned group supervisor Vincent Lavenu. “Firstly, to verify our efficiency final yr within the general classification with Felix Gall. Secondly, we’re additionally on the lookout for at the least one stage win.”
“Sam Bennett can be one in every of our greatest probabilities within the dash finishes, however we additionally produce other riders able to elevating their arms. I am pondering of Dorian Godon and Paul Lapeira who, within the occasion of a small group end, could make their pace depend.”
Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale for the 2024 Tour de France
- Bruno Armirail
- Sam Bennett
- Felix Gall
- Dorion Godon
- Paul Lapeira
- Oliver Naesen
- Nans Peters
- Nicolas Prodhomme
Get limitless entry to all of our protection of the Tour de France – together with journalists reporting, breaking information and evaluation on the bottom from each stage of the race because it occurs and extra. Discover out extra.
