Sam Bennett to return for Deceuninck for first time since boss's criticism

Sam Bennett. Photo: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

September 16 2021 02:30 AM

Sam Bennett will race for Deceuninck-QuickStep for the first time since being publically criticised by his team boss Patrick Lefevere after being selected for tomorrow’s Kampioenschap van Vlaanderen race in Belgium.

The sprinter, who lined out for Ireland at last weekend’s European road championships, has not raced in his team colours since May and was the target of several verbal attacks by Lefevere after the fallout of Bennett’s knee injury, which ruled him out of the Tour de France.

Bennett, who is leaving the team to rejoin Bora-Hansgrohe at the end of the season, has kept this counsel despite the repeated criticism of his team boss, who has confirmed he is trying to reduce Bennett’s salary from September, which is allowed under UCI regulations if a rider has been inactive for three months.