This write-up initially appeared on Velo Information
How do you support Tadej Pogacar, arguably the finest climber in the world, in the course of the Tour de France?
George Bennett is about to discover out.
The New Zealand pro at UAE Crew Emirates is now amongst the elite in a peloton complete of smooth mountain professionals, but he’s the 1st to acknowledge two-time defending winner Pogacar is on one more degree.
“Tadej? He is the ideal climber in the planet,” Bennett instructed VeloNews. “My task is to be there for him as very long as probable.”
Upcoming month, Bennett’s task is likely to try the in the vicinity of-unattainable as he will endeavor to continue to be with Pogacar as much as he can deep into the mountains in the Pyrenees and Alps.
“It’s interesting. I’m looking forward to it,” he reported. “Sometimes when you are the domestique it would be discouraging if the chief would be worse than you in the mountains, but with Tadej, you know he’s going to thrust you to the complete limit.
“He demands you to the demise, he desires you appropriate to the really finish.”
Bennett, 32, is a new piece to the at any time-more powerful UAE Group Emirates as the squad builds out a further bench to assist Pogacar as the Slovenian pedals toward what could a 3rd straight yellow jersey.
Pogacar is honing his form this 7 days at the Tour of Slovenia, though Bennett is incredibly hot off ending the Criterium du Dauphine.
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Arch-rivals Jumbo-Visma unquestionably dominated the French race, winning a few levels, the group classification, the environmentally friendly factors jersey with Wout van Aert, and the all round with Primoz Roglic and Jonas Vinegaard in second.
Bennett was shelling out shut awareness all week, but stated UAE won’t be racing exclusively towards Jumbo-Visma in July.
“There is a huge hazard of saying that this is Jumbo-Visma versus UAE,” Bennett mentioned. “You have Ineos and Bora, and you have so quite a few other men. It truly is some thing we want to stay clear of, then we are just opening ourselves up to possessing each other crew owning a cost-free journey.”
Bennett, who is expected to be tapped to start off the Tour with UAE, will come throughout soon after two seasons with Jumbo-Visma.
In 2020, he played a related part to help Roglic, only to see Pogacar snatch absent victory in the closing time trial in the Vosges. In 2021, Bennett raced GC at the Giro d’Italia to end 11th and did not start off the Tour.
Bennett will give Pogacar an further ally deep in the most difficult mountain stages.
“I deliver a bit of experience, and my task is just to be there with him in the mountains,” Bennett told VeloNews final week at the Dauphine. “When you’re the strongest person in the race, you need to have the much better staff due to the fact all people leans on you.
“Everyone is out to test you, even if they damage on their own. So you need this insurance plan coverage of a tremendous solid group in the mountains. I am looking forward it.”
UAE even now has nevertheless to reveal its “Tour Eight,” and Bennett is among numerous climbers expected to be chosen to race.
Fellow newcomer Marc Soler will also aid in the mountains, and Brandon McNulty, Marc Hirschi, and Rafal Majka will all provide Pogacar extra protection on his flanks on the climbs.
UAE will also want to carry some much better riders for the flats and the treacherous opening to start with 7 days, such as Mikkel Bjerg, Matteo Trentin or Vegard Stake Laengen, so it will be attention-grabbing to see who can make the quality and who is remaining dwelling.
Bennett said he’s relishing the prospect to ride in assist of someone favored to win the yellow jersey.
“When you’re doing it for any person who truly is there to acquire the race and a seriously great dude as properly, then it is a person of the most fascinating employment in the world,” he said.
“We cannot feel about much too several groups,” Bennett explained. “We are going to be at the entrance, ride his speed on the climbs, and then be ready to handle anything at all that transpires.”
Pogacar is generally by yourself off the entrance. Bennett is hoping to preserve him corporation as lengthy as achievable.
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