New Zealand cyclist Laurence Pithie. Photo: Red Bull Content Pool / Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe / Oriol Castello
Kiwi cyclist George Bennett wasn't able to make it to the start line for the 2025 Tour de France, but he's been closely following 'La Grande Boucle' from his training base in Andorra as he prepares for another of cycling's grand tours, the Vuelta a Espana.
The efforts of fellow Kiwi Laurence Pithie have made an impression on Bennett. The 22-year-old is riding in his first Tour de France campaign and while he's back in 105th place after 10 stages, it's not his job to chase the yellow jersey. His role is to support Red Bull - Bora - Hansgrohe teammate Primoz Roglic.
"He's a he's a big, strong boy from Canterbury." Bennett told RNZ's First Up. "He's definitely not scared to get his elbows out. He's a guy that likes to throw his weight around, and to have a guy like that on your team is really valuable. I love racing with guys like Laurence, but I hate racing against guys like Laurence. And that's why he's there for Primoz, and he's had a busy week protecting him."
This year marks 50 years since the Tour first finished on the Champs circuit. To celebrate the occasion, organisers have altered the route of the final stage to include three laps of the Champs and three climbs up the Butte Montmartre. Normally the 21st stage is a largely ceremonial affair with the leaders sipping champagne on the road into Paris before a sprint finish. Bennett isn't a fan, and feels even without the changes, the final stage into Paris is a lot tougher than people realise.
George Bennett in 2023. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
"I hate it." he said. "On TV it kind of looks just like they cruise around and have a bunch sprint. The reality is that's one of the most horrific stages as it is, the cobbles are rough, it's uphill. It's it's such a horrific stage. If you win the Champ sprint then it's the biggest sprint of the year. But to make it another general classification day where suddenly you finish in the Alps, you take the charter flight to Paris and then you have to do this extremely dangerous (stage). Crashing on the cobbles is the worst, you don't get road rash, it takes big chunks out of you. It just, it just makes the whole last day so horrible."
Although not having to ride it has altered his perspective a little.
"When I was originally going on the tour and I saw that last stage, I wasn't very happy, but now that I'm sitting on my couch watching it, I think, yeah, cool."
Once recent change Bennett is more positive about is the introduction of a punishment system for dangerous riding, first trialled during 2024.
"In the past it was the wild west, and there weren't really consequences, but they've produced a bit of a yellow card system for dangerous riding. They've already handed out a few cards this year, and if you get two cards, you're out, so I don't know if it's making things safer, but it's probably adding a little bit of sort of justice for a few rogue operators that are repeat offenders."
The tour resumes on Wednesday night New Zealand time with the 181 kilometre stage 12 from Auch to Hautacam.
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