Sam Bennett on the road to achieving Tour de France dream

Irish rider Sam Bennett moved a step closer to realising his dream of riding the Tour de France in July when his team were yesterday granted a wildcard invitation to the world’s biggest bike race.

The Carrick-on-Suir sprinter is one of the top riders in his German-registered Bora Argon-18 team and they, along with 21 other squads were confirmed for the three-week race in six months’ time.

It’s huge news for Bennett, and indeed Irish cycling, as it raises the possibility of the country being represented by four riders in the Tour, something which has never happened before.

Bennett, 24, was in his first year in the ProContinental ranks last year when his team, then known as NetApp-Endura, made their debut in the race. Although the Irishman wasn’t included in the nine-man squad there, the team battled well and through Leopold König, managed seventh overall, a ride that increased the team’s chances of being invited back.

And those chances were further improved two weeks ago when German television announced it was going to broadcast the race again this year after a break of several seasons due to the doping problem in the sport.

Bennett won four top races last year and the team’s management have said they’ll focus more on sprint stages at this year’s races, with the former national champion central to their plans.

“It’s very exciting news for me,” said Bennett. “But July is a long way away yet. I’ll follow a similar programme to last year, but hopefully the Tour can be one race I get to do.”

Also in contention to start are Dan Martin (Garmin-Cannondale) and the Team Sky pairing of Nicolas Roche and Philip Deignan.

Roche says it would be a dream come true to help Chris Froome win the Tour de France this year.

Roche, who has raced 13 Grand Tours already in his career, was one of five new riders to join Sky in September and is expected to play a major role in Froome’s bid for glory in July.

The Irishman’s move also weakens Froome’s main rival in Paris, Alberto Contador, who previously enjoyed Roche’s support at Tinkoff-Saxo.

“It has always been my dream to ride down the Champs Elysees with the yellow jersey in the team, that would be a brilliant success,” Roche said.

“My priority is to be at the top of the Tour and give my maximum to support to Chris.

Meanwhile it was an emotional day for MTN-Quebeka yesterday as they became the first African team named in the start-list for the Tour.