Sam Bennett
"We can't leave the Giro without winning a stage".
"I'm very happy to be back in Italy, where I have so many fond memories. The last time I took part in the Giro d'Italia, I was very successful, and I hope to build on that success. With three flat stages in the first week, there will be opportunities for victory. We have a very good team for the sprints, with the train that enabled me to win this year. On the more difficult days, with a reduced group, Dorian (Godon) and Andrea (Vendrame) can still be there and make their speed count. I also have the points jersey in mind, but the priority remains winning stages. We can't leave the Giro without winning a stage."
Luke Roberts
"The main objective is to win a stage".
"The main objective for this Giro d'Italia will be to take a stage win. There will be plenty of opportunities for Sam (Bennett) in the sprint. In the smaller finishes, we'll be able to count on riders like Andrea (Vendrame) and Dorian (Godon). For the mountain stages, the aim will be to place Nicolas (Prodhomme) and Geoffrey (Bouchard) in the breakaways to aim for victory. If everything goes well with Sam, the points jersey may become an objective, but the priority remains to land stage wins."
The news
Grande prima
Italy will be the scene of a grand tour debut for 23-year-old Norwegian Tord Gudmestad. Still on the subject of firsts, it will be the first Giro d'Italia for Dorian Godon and Stan Dewulf.
7
The number
The number of stage wins at the Giro d'Italia for the DECATHLON AG2R LA MONDIALE team. After sprint victories in 2006 and 2011 by Tomas Vaitkus and John Gadret, it was Nans Peters who paved the way for winning breakaways in 2019. He was followed by Andrea Vendrame (twice in 2021 and 2024) and Aurélien Paret-Peintre in 2023, then his brother, Valentin, in 2024.
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