Sam Bennett discusses today’s Tour de France stage

Today is stage 5 on the 2020 Tour de France, a stage that should suit sprinters.

Ireland’s Sam Bennett, now level on points with green jersey wearer Peter Sagan, spoke this morning at the stage start in Gap.

“I’ll probably just try and stay safe. I don’t think we need to make the race today” the Carrick-On-Suir cyclist admitted. “It’s a long way to Paris and the boys are doing a great job so far but if we keep going, working hard every day, we might blow-up after the first week.”

Regarding the final kilometre in Privas of Wednesday’s 183 kilometres, Bennett offered the following assessment:

“I think (the last km today) will be hard. I think the wind will play a big role but I’ll just try to stay calm and stay up there. If we keep riding the way we are, we’ll be done by the first week so it’s up to the other sprint teams today and if they don’t play their part then we’re just going to be rolling home. (I’ll) just try and survive the little drags and then I’m trying to keep open-minded – it’s very hard to predict. (My) confidence is ok but I’m still looking for that win. If I get that maybe that will help.”

The Deceuninck – Quick-Step rider, while admitting to making a mistake in the stage 1 sprint on Saturday, feels other sprinting teams have to work more and not just expect his team to bring it to a bunch sprint.

“I made a mistake in the first stage, but there was nothing else I could do in any other stage” says Bennett. “Today, I’ll just try and read the situation and go for it. I don’t know can we do too much today because we have yellow and have to defend that as long as possible. If the other teams don’t today, then there won’t be a bunch sprint. It’s something we’re not really targeting.  You want it to be a bunch sprint but we’re not going to make it a bunch sprint ourselves. I think every sprinter here is good in this type of finish.”