Kiwi rider George Bennett expecting 'fireworks' in the Pyrenees as he fights to retain top 10 spot at the Tour de France

Bennett in action during stage one in France.
Bennett in action during stage one in France. Photo credit: Photosport

Kiwi cyclist George Bennett will be doing everything he can to hang on to his Top 10 place at the Tour de France.

The LottoNL-Jumbo rider had a chance to put his feet up and have a well-deserved break on the rest day of the gruelling race, although he admitted to waking up and feeling like he’d been "hit by a train."  

"It's been a hectic Tour, it feels like we've done three weeks but we're only nine days in," Bennett told Newshub.

It has been a memorable start to cycling's biggest race for Bennett.

He crashed in the slippery conditions in Dusseldorf on the opening stage, before recovering brilliantly and keeping up with some of the sport's best climbers on Stage Nine.

He came home in seventh place, and is now tenth overall in the general classification, just under four minutes behind Chris Froome and the yellow jersey.

"If the race ended tomorrow I'd be happy, tenth is great. I think realistically moving up is very difficult, I'm just going to have to fight for dear life."

The last stage was a game-changer for Bennett and his team. The frantic descents in wet conditions caused havoc, with previous yellow-jersey holder Geraint Thomas and pre-race favourite Richie Porte abandoning the race after nasty crashes. Bennett was just happy to come through unscathed.

"It was one of the few times in my life in a bike race that I've been truly scared. I was going down that last hill full gas, taking big risks in the corners and really leaning the bike over.

"I came past Richie Porte on the ground and he wasn’t even moving. I just couldn’t get it out of my head, I was a bit rattled by that.”

Kiwi rider George Bennett expecting 'fireworks' in the Pyrenees as he fights to retain top 10 spot at the Tour de France
Photo credit: Getty

The Nelson rider also had two of his team-mates abandon the race, with Jos van Emden and Robert Gesink pulling out. It’s changed his focus from stage wins, to the general classification.

"It went so well that it’s now pretty clear I have to just go for it and ride smart. It means I probably won’t win a stage on this Tour now, I really just have to race with the best guys from the peloton and hope like hell I can hang on."

Without van Emden and Gesink, Bennett will lack support in the mountains. Only team-mate Primoz Roglic will be able to keep up with him in the hills, although Roglic is more likely to get himself in the breakaway and chase stage wins.

Being in tenth spot also means he is now a hunted man. Bennett knows he has to keep an eye on the riders behind him, as there will be plenty of rivals trying to attack him in the mountains and take time off him.

For now though, he is loving the chance to be in the mix with some of the best in the business.

On Stage Nine, he was part of an elite climbing group that featured three-time champion Froome, multiple Grand Tour winner Nairo Quintana, talented Frenchman Romain Bardet and 2015 Vuelta a España winner Fabio Aru.

"Yeah it's very cool. When I first was there I just assumed everyone was having a bad day, and suddenly there was just six of us and I thought, ok, this is the real deal."

The next two stages, including tonight’s, favour the sprinters, giving Bennett a chance to reset. Then it is off to the famous Pyrenees.

"So much can happen between now and Paris, but I love the Pyrenees and I’ve always raced well there. I’m fizzing for it."

Newshub.