[ad_1]
Sean Kelly believes that the confidence that Sam Bennett will have gained with his maiden Tour de France stage win on Tuesday means that he will be able to repeat the feat on today’s 11th stage.
“It’s been a long time coming, but he finally gets his stage win. Well deserved,” Kelly, a four-time winner of the green jersey, told RTÉ Sport’s Darren Frehill.
“There were a lot of expectations from him, the team change coming this year and a team that is a specialized leader for a sprinter like Sam (Deceuninck-Quick Step).
“It is not a surprise that we see him win. It is a huge achievement and it takes a lot of pressure off him in the future at this Tour de France.”
Today’s 167.5 km journey from Châtelaillon-Plage to Poitiers is another one prepared for sprinters, as Kelly well knows, who won it himself 42 years ago.
“Today’s stage is the stage where I won my first stage of the Tour de France,” he said. “A long time ago, but I have a lot of clear memories.
“It’s going to be an interesting day because now Sam has his first win and when you have that feeling, you feel like you can win a lot more.
“There is a great chance that he will get his second stage win in 24 hours.
“When you have the taste of victory as a professional athlete and cyclist, you just want more.”
Bennett is locked in a battle with Peter Sagan for the sprinters’ points title.
The Slovakian has won it seven times, but Kelly believes his native Carrick-on-Suir teammate will transform himself by becoming the second Irishman, after Shay Elliott, to win a stage in all three Grand Tours.
“The green jersey is a goal, to win it absolutely, so he has to go to this stage today.
“It is very possible. He has shown himself that he can win and when you have that confidence, the things you can do are incredible.”
[ad_2]