Waterford's Sam Bennett will be the sole Irish representative for the An Post Sean Kelly team at the Boucles de la Mayenne (2.2) four-day stage race starting tomorrow in France.
Bennett is part of a six-man team which includes Belgian riders Niko Eeckhout, Pieter Ghyllebert and Stijn Ennekens, Lithuanian rider Gediminas Bagdonas and Britain’s, Mark Christian.
It’s been a good week for Bennett following his fourth place finish at the Herselt Kermesse in Belgium, while he was also named as first reserve on the Irish Olympic road race team.
Team manager Kurt Bogaerts praised Bennett’s form and is expecting another tough four days for his riders.
Bogaerts said: “Sam is in good condition and has been riding really well. He was unlucky to miss out on a couple of stage wins at the Rás and put in another solid performance at the Herselt Kermesse so this is positive news for the team.
“The Boucles de la Mayenne will have a top class field this year and that coupled with the mountainous route will be a good test for the team.
"We will look to be involved at the front from the start and hopefully we can come away with a stage win.”
