Sam Bennett: 'Sagan leading me out is really cool but it puts me under pressure'
The Irishman won the final stage of the Vuelta a San Juan with Sagan's help, but will find Grand Tour opportunities limited in 2019

Sam Bennett (Bora-Hansgrohe) says that the pressure increases when he has superstar team-mate Peter Sagan leading him out for the sprints. Fortunately, like overnight in the Vuelta a San Juan, the Irishman comes through with the win.
Bennett won his first race of the 2019 season on Sunday, the final stage of the tour in western Argentina. In the San Juan finish, where fans crowded the roadsides, Bennett finished ahead of Alvaro Hodeg (Deceuninck-Quick Step). Fernando Gaviria (UAE Team Emirates) placed 10th and Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data) 12th.
>>> Mark Cavendish starting 2019 season with no expectations after return from illness
"It's great to win," Bennett said. "It's a relief, the pressure has gone. It's always nice to get a win in the very first stage race. I needed it because I'd put pressure on myself."
Dimension Data worked hard for Cavendish in the final kilometres. Sagan, three-time world champion and Classics star, then picked up the pace for the last lead-out man Erik Baška and Bennett.
"It's really nice that the team had so much confidence in me and gave me three chances in the three sprint stages," Bennett said.
"Considering what Peter has won, he doesn't have to lead me out, he could sprint himself. Sagan leading me out is really cool but it puts me under pressure, too.
"The whole team did a fantastic job and gave 110 per cent. With team-mates like him, I can't screw up. I had to pay them back."
Sagan left Argentina for a trade show in Germany on Monday morning. He had arrived last week in the San Juan province from Adelaide, Australia, having begun his season with the Tour Down Under and won stage three.
"I try to be here and train and not take it too seriously, afterwards it's a long season," Sagan said. "The Classics are hard to finish, physically and mentally."
His first focus is on the spring Classics starting with Milan-San Remo, so he is happy to help Bennett when there is an opportunity. He also did so 24 hours earlier when Bennett led the bunch sprint over the line but an escape had stayed away for the win.
"Winning early gives you morale for the next race," Bennett continued. "I'm confident going home and motivated to train hard for two and half weeks. I've got a bit of work to do but I hope to have the legs there."
Bennett has a point to prove. He won three stages in the Giro d'Italia last year, but this year the German team decided they will take German champion Pascal Ackermann (Bora-Hansgrohe) instead to lead the sprints. Bennett also cannot find a place on the Tour de France team, which will be centred on Peter Sagan.
His next opportunity to win will be the UAE Tour at the end of February. He will face Gaviria again and other sprinters like Elia Viviani (Deceuninck - Quick-Step), Marcel Kittel (Katusha-Alpecin) and Caleb Ewan (Lotto-Soudal).
Thank you for reading 10 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Gregor Brown is an experienced cycling journalist, based in Florence, Italy. He has covered races all over the world for over a decade - following the Giro, Tour de France, and every major race since 2006. His love of cycling began with freestyle and BMX, before the 1998 Tour de France led him to a deep appreciation of the road racing season.
-
-
The Ultimate Gear Test: this bike and gear survived an epic edition of the Unbound XL
The Unbound XL is a true test of fitness, self-sufficiency, tenacity and equipment. Here’s how this rider's bike and gear fared after 352 miles of gravel, mud, rain and thunderstorms.
By Anne-Marije Rook • Published
-
Specialized releases pro-race winning Roval Rapide Cockpit
Integrated rated Roval bar and stem has already seen multiple wins on bikes of Demi Vollering and Fabio Jakobsen this season
By Joe Baker • Published
-
In celebration of Peter Sagan, cycling's rock and roll frontman
As the three-time world champion is set to call time on his career in the WorldTour at the end of 2023, we thought we would take a look back at the glory days
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
After a 'frustrating' 2022, Sam Bennett targets green at the Tour de France again
Irish Bora-Hansgrohe sprinter laments missed opportunities in 2022 due to injuries and illness, but will try again next year
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Wout van Aert moots building gravel world championships into 2023 programme
Belgian rider says gravel racing has a ‘great future’ as he considers worlds participation next year
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Peter Sagan to ride the UCI Gravel World Championships to ‘give back to the people’
‘I still have much more to give’ says Sagan on the decision to head to Italy for the competition
By Tom Thewlis • Last updated
-
Peter Sagan has day to forget at E-MTB Worlds, crashing twice
The Slovakian came off his bike and finished in 16th
By Tom Davidson • Published
-
‘Lesson one, never give up’: Ski mountaineer turned cyclist Anton Palzer on stepping out of his comfort zone
A film released by Red Bull depicts the German rider's journey from ski champion to professional rider
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Vuelta a España 2022: Sam Bennett makes it two in a row with win on stage three
Bora-Hansgrohe's Irish rider outsprints Mads Pedersen and Dan McLay in Breda, Edoardo Affini in red
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Peter Sagan set to compete in the electric mountain bike World Championships
TotalEnergies rider will compete in competition in Les Gets, France in late-August
By Tom Thewlis • Published