George Bennett leaves UAE Team Emirates for Israel-Premier Tech

Israel-Premier Tech have confirmed the signing of experienced climber George Bennett on a two-year deal from 2024.

The 33-year-old will leave UAE Team Emirates after just two seasons in search of more leadership opportunities during the twilight period of his career.

Bennett has not featured at a Grand Tour this season, with his only three-week race at UAE, the 2022 Tour de France, cut short due to Covid-19. Since then, the New Zealander has been battling to rediscover his top level. His best result in 2023 has come at the Vuelta a Burgos - a sixth-place finish whilst working in the service of his team leader Adam Yates, who rounded out the podium.

The Kiwi will hope that his move to Israel-Premier Tech can reignite his form of old, add depth to the team's climbing squad and offer him leadership opportunities of his own.

"I’m really excited for my future with IPT. I’m already close with a lot of people in the team and it’s clear that there is a great culture and desire to grow and I want to be a big part of that," Bennett said in a press release.

"I’m looking forward to chasing results personally and as a team and to have the resources to be the best rider I can whilst surrounded by great people. I see a lot of opportunities, especially in Grand Tours and in the high mountains and I can’t wait to get started."

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Prior to his two-year spell at UAE Team Emirates, Bennett was an invaluable mountain domestique for Jumbo-Visma, riding both the Tour de France and Vuelta a España in 2019 and 2020, helping Primož Roglič secure back-to-back Vuelta titles in the process.

Despite 2020's disrupted schedule, Bennett also claimed some of his best results on a personal level too - with victory at Italian one-day race Gran Piemonte followed up by a runners-up spot at Il Lombardia just days later.

With chances of his own likely to be easier to come by at Israel-Premier Tech, the Kiwi climber may eye similar targets in 2024.

General Manager Kjell Carlström is hopeful that Bennett can recapture that winning feeling in his team's colours.

"We are looking forward to seeing what George can do when given leadership at stage races suited to his profile, and providing key support to our other leaders throughout the next two seasons."