More wins for our French kiwi internationals

Aug 31st, 09. After what was already a great start to August, kiwi George Bennett and teammate Wade Mangham continue to win races across France.

George Bennett about to take the win in the Rond de Jura

Earlier in August, Mangham and Bennett, racing for their French team VCCM Morteau Montbeniot, earned top positions in the Tour de la Drome. Bennett won the tour title whilst Mangham won the final stage.

Just a short while late, Bennett was again at the top of the podium. The Rond de Jura races over three long laps finishing up a 3km climb. During the final lap Bennett attacked and after being joined by four riders the quartet managed to ride away from the peloton.

"It was no secret the guys who had ridden across to me couldn't climb. They were all big boys who could go in the cross wind but that's it," said Bennett.

After the peloton lost interest in chasing the break, Bennett attacked again on the final climb dropping the other three riders and finishing a minute in clear in front.

"It was a different feeling winning this race. I felt like I got lucky," he said.

This win was Bennett's fourth French win of the season and gives him the necessary points to enable him to move up to Category 1. "I'm now officially a Cat One rider which is cool" said Bennett.

The ranking could place Bennett in a difficult situation - racing for a Category 2 team as a Category 1 rider, but Bennett sees it as an opportunity.

"This is good because it helps me with the talks I'm having with bigger teams for next year," said Bennett. "So far I have one Category 1 team keen but I am waiting to hear from [another] strong team," he said.

Three weeks ago Bennett was worried about getting enough points to make Category 1 next year. Now his sights have moved to see if he can miss Cat One and go straight to Elite. This would be possible if he can secure 300 more points in the final Tour of the season.

"It's a very hard task as I only have one tour left to do it in, and it sounds like it's one of the hardest amateur tours in France," said Bennett on his website.

Another win: Prix de Marcigny

The Rond de Jura wasn't the final August win for the kiwis in the VCCM Moteau Montbeniot team. On the 85km Prix de Marcigny last Monday, Bennett again found himself in a winning break.  With 40 laps to go Bennett was off the front in a small break with kiwi teammate Wade Mangham.

After dropping the third breakaway rider, Bennett and Mangham lapped the field and went on to take first and second place.

"It's one of the problems of arriving at the finish line with a teammate," said Bennett. "One of you has to get second." The two kiwis didn't sprint, with Mangham taking the win and Bennett finishing second while picking up all the sprint points from the race.

Photos and quotes used with permission www.georgebennettcycling.blogspot.com

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