Sam Bennett content with form as he sets sight on Tour de France

It's 100 days until the Tour de France, and Sam Bennett could really use a victory. The Carrick on Suir rider is in a puzzling place at the moment.

He’s in his best early-season form in years, yet has a spate of near misses in races.

Sprinters thrive on victories and Bennett knows once he takes one win more will follow, yet he’s come up empty thus far.

"The form is pretty good," he told RTÉ Sport this week. "In Paris-Nice, I did my best-ever 20 minute power. I am climbing super strong. I am doing some of my best rides in years, in terms of power, but the results aren’t showing that at all.

"It’s a positive, but it’s not what you are looking for. You are looking for the results on paper. But it is a good sign when my engine is so big at the minute. I just need to get the sprint.

"The form is good, the results are not so good," he added, laughing.

Bennett was on top of the cycling world in 2020, winning two stages plus the green jersey in the Tour de France. He was the rider to beat that year and also in early 2021, clocking up numerous victories across Europe.

However, a knee injury sidelined him for months and despite periods of decent form, he has missed out on riding the Tour ever since.

Bennett felt a lack of faith from his previous team and moved to the Decathlon Ag2r la Mondiale squad this winter to be one of its designated leaders.

Working with the Irish coach Stephen Barrett, the plan was for him to clock up at least one victory early in the year. He went close: in February he was second on a stage of the Tour de la Provence. This month he was fourth and sixth in stages of Paris-Nice.

Those near-misses were partly down to him, partly down to the move to his new squad.

Decathlon Ag2r la Mondiale has little history as a sprint