Jumbo-Visma sees Bennett wasting time: “Not as hoped and expected”

Jumbo-Visma sees Bennett wasting time: “Not as hoped and expected”

Tuesday May 11, 2021 at 7:03 PM

George Bennett was one of the big losers of the fourth stage of the Giro d’Italia in Sestola. In the rainy stage, the leader of Jumbo-Visma lost almost a minute and a half against an elite group including Egan Bernal, Aleksandr Vlasov and Mikel Landa. “It did not go as we had hoped and expected,” said sporting director Addy Engels.

“George was overwhelmed by the cold at the end and it broke him,” Engels said. “Some people digest it better than others, but that’s no excuse. We know from George he can’t take it well. In the end, he lost a minute and a half to the top men in the standings and with the help of Tobias Foss he was able to limit the damage.

The New Zealand champion occupies 34th place in the general classification after four stages. His gap with the best rider in the standings, Vlasov, is 1.46 minutes. “This loss is a lot on such a climb, but on the other hand, we have also just started,” his sporting director maintains hope. “A lot can change in three weeks, as we’ve seen in the past. There is no reason to change course yet. “

Tobias Foss was also unable to follow the best climbers. He lost second place in the standings and is now 31st, 28 seconds ahead of leader Bennett.

Tobias Foss takes George Bennett in tow – photo: Cor Vos