Sam Bennett is set for the first big test of his comeback; a first stage race that should help whip him into shape (Photo: Macphtos)
Sam Bennett has his first race completed for new team Pinarello Q36.5 but now the Irish rider is set for his first big challenge of his comeback, after a cardiac issue, in the shape of stage race action in Spain.
The field he will be among is not one stacked with sprinting talent. And that means if Bennett can get a run at a finish line at some point over the next week, he will get a chance to truly gauge his current condition.
The 35-year-old lines out in Volta Ciclista a Catalunya (2.UWT) from tomorrow, Monday, and the seven stages of action represent an ideal opportunity for him to throw himself back into action.
Darren Rafferty (EF Education-EasyPost) will also be in action, in a team selection that includes Richard Carapaz. The former Olympic champion was beginning to show form at the recent Tirreno-Adriatico and will be riding this race for a stage win and podium GC finish.
Rafferty, now in his third season as a World Tour rider, will race in support of Carapaz. The young Irishman will be looking to cement his place in the team’s selection for Giro d’Italia.
In terms of Bennett, his team is not putting him under any pressure, knowing he is on his way back from a cardiac issue and will need plenty of time to get back into the full flow of racing and to build his form.
The first two stages look like the best chance for the sprints, though this is an event normally raced hard by the general classification men and their teams from start to finish.
And even though the sprinters may get a chance as soon as tomorrow, there is still a cat 1 climb in the opening third of the 173km stage to Sant Feliu de Guíxols. That climb comes so far from the finish, there should be a regrouping after it.
The main challenge for any of the sprinters still in the bunch after that ascent – 16.2km averaging just 3 per cent gradient – are some inclines towards the end of the day, which are modest but come very quickly one after another.
Tuesday’s stage 2 takes the riders 167.4km from Figueres to Banyoles. There are no categorised climbs, though the road is undulating. It is probably the most likely sprinters’ day.
Bennett’s team will go into his race with expectations of results as it is led by Tom Pidcock, the only rider able to match Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) in the final of Milan-Sanremo, even if he had to settle for 2nd behind the world champion.
However, there is a very strong general classification field assembling for the race, including riders like: Remco Evenepoel and Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe), João Almeida and Jay Vine (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike), Oscar Onley (Ineos Grenadiers), Lenny Martinez (Bahrain-Victorious),Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) and Ben O’Connor (Team Jayco AlUla).