Bennett upset by 2013 carding snub

Sam Bennett, one of Ireland’s most promising young riders has said the decision to strip him of funding via the Sport’s Councils International Carding Scheme has come as a ‘kick in the teeth’.

Bennett, 22, has been riding with the An Post Sean Kelly team for several seasons now but learnt at the Cycling Ireland Awards dinner recently that he was to be axed from funding for 2013.

“It was a kick in the teeth,” said the Carrick-on-Suir native. “I’ve always done my best and I’ve always put in 100% any time I’ve put on the jersey. I was talking to some officials at the Cycling Ireland Awards dinner and was trying to see what the deal was for next year but they were basically saying that the pros aren’t getting the carding so why should I.