Sam Bennett ruled out of Tour de France due to injury

Mark Cavendish will return to the Tour in Bennett's place for the first time since 2018

Sam Bennett. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Just days after he was deemed fit enough by his team to start the Tour de France, Ireland's Sam Bennett has not been included in the Deceuninck-QuickStep squad for this year's race which starts on Saturday.

In a rather strange twist, the double stage winner and green jersey winner from last year has now been left out of the team because of an ongoing injury to his right knee.