UAE Tour: ‘I don’t remember such a competitive sprint field’ says Sam Bennett

Finishing second to Tom Van Asbroeck (Israel-Premier Tech) on the final day of the Tour de la Provence, Sam Bennett almost made a perfect start to life as a Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale rider last week. But as he sits down with GCN to preview the UAE Tour, starting on Monday, the Irishman knows the next seven days of racing will be another level entirely.

“I don't remember such a competitive sprint field,” he says. “It feels like every team has one and as big as the roads are here, we are not all going to fit!”

The three-time stage winner and soon-to-be six-time starter at this race is under no illusion that more than half a dozen of the world’s best sprinters will be vying to prevent him from getting off the mark for 2024.

“There's only three real sprint stages, there's people going to miss out and the thing is, sprinters have egos and that's going to be hard. There'll be a bit of bashing, but that's the nature of it isn't it?” he laughs, pondering the challenge of a lead-out in such a stacked field.

The list of would-be sprint stage winners is seemingly endless but includes the likes of Fernando Gaviria (Movistar), Mark Cavendish (Astana Qazaqstan) and Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step). That is not to mention riders such as Olav Kooij (Visma-Lease a Bike), Dylan Groenewegan (Jayco AlUla) and Sam Welsford (Bora-Hansgrohe), some of whom will be supported by a multi-man lead-out train.

Read more: UAE Tour 2024 preview

With Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale targeting the general classification through Ben O’Connor at the UAE Tour, climbing support has been prioritised over a full sprint team for Bennett. In an interview with GCN over the winter, the Irishman had pointed to Oliver Naesen as the ideal lead-out man on his new team, but for now, at least, their partnership is on the back burner.

“Oli [Naesen], Dries [De Bondt] and Edvald [Boasson Hagen] are all in the Classics,” he notes. “I will have more support in Paris-Nice and after the Classics, then I should have more of a set-up.”

In their absence, the French WorldTeam have shown their faith in Belgian neo-pro Gianluca Pollefliet, who will be making his professional debut on Monday.

“They threw him in at the deep end!” chuckles Bennett. “But I have confidence in him, he has the power, he comes from the track and I think I should be able to navigate through the peloton quite well. We will just have to play it by ear and see how we go.

“I think we will have engines to get us there, but at the same time, the guys we have here are more of a climbers group and I don't want to put them in that position. I would rather keep them safe.”

© Billy Ceusters/Velo Collection via Getty Images

'Of course in smaller races where we have to control the races and make it [a sprint], then we need a lead-out train. But here, it's not up to us'

But rather than look upon this two-man band as a weakness, the 33-year-old is keen to show optimism in Pollefliet ahead of what promises to be a rude awakening into life as a lead-out man.

“I think it's going to be war here,” he admits. But with two [riders], you will be able to move a lot nicer through the bunch. There's no way trains are going to be able to stick together here, they are going to get lost.

“Then what happens with cyclists is, you get broken up and sometimes they don't have the ability to improvise and then the moment is gone. With two guys, you're either with them or you're not, and then you just do your own thing and go off feel."

Read more: Ben O’Connor considers contract options: 'I think you have to be open-minded'

Bennett suffers from sickness after Tour de la Provence

Just moments before sitting down to look ahead to the race, Bennett had first shown his face midway through an interview with his teammate, O’Connor. “Coffee, lads?” was the question posed by the Irishman.

Although O’Connor did not oblige, an afternoon beverage might provide a much-needed pick-me-up for Bennett, who admits he has been suffering from a stomach bug since the Tour de la Provence.

“I feel like crap today but it’s two days until the race,” he says. It is not uncommon for riders to fall ill after the early-season test, which can flick up all kinds of bacteria from the roads when hit by bad weather. But Bennett is hopeful of a quick recovery ahead of stage 1.

Although noted as a sprint stage in the official roadbook, the opening day is actually the hilliest of the entire race, with 2,115m of elevation gain on a lumpy 140.9km-long route between Al Dhafra Walk and Liwa Palace. In spite of this, the Irishman fancies his chances in full fitness.

“It's lumpy, but it's possible. All in all, everything should be fine, everything should be ready on the day. I think if you're on good form it will be a good test. I think I have been going quite well and if my legs are good on the day, I should have a good chance.”

Read more: Sam Bennett: I’ve a chip on my shoulder with how my career has unfolded

The 33-year-old may only be four days of racing into his Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale career, but Bennett has been around the block enough times to know that success at the UAE Tour can be an important line drawn in the sand for the sprinters.

“I think it's quite important as a sprinter to be able to win all year long. Nobody wants a sprinter that can't win. It doesn't matter if you're hitting podiums, you have to be winning and you have to be winning all year long.”

For all the important information about the 2024 UAE Tour, be sure to check out our dedicated race hub for our full preview, the race startlist and much more.