Rider Profile
George Bennett
Israel-Premier Tech
![George Bennett](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/RHbVNydhCEN8sMGhHY5i2d-320-80.jpg)
Personal Details:
Teams history:
- 2024 - Israel-Premier Tech
- 2023 - UAE Team Emirates
- 2022 - UAE Team Emirates
- 2021 - Team Jumbo–Visma
- 2020 - Team Jumbo-Visma
- 2019 - Team Jumbo-Visma
- 2018 - LottoNL-Jumbo
- 2017 - Team LottoNL-Jumbo
- 2016 - Team LottoNl-Jumbo
- 2015 - Team LottoNL-Jumbo
- 2014 - Cannondale
- 2013 - RadioShack Leopard
- 2012 - RadioShack-Nissan
Biography:
New Zealander George Bennett, born April 7, 1990, began racing bicycles as a junior with a club team and then focused on a career in the pro peloton as a 21-year-old with the Trek-Livestrong development programme and as a stagiaire with the RadioShack WorldTour team. That first year he impressed with the overall win at Tour of Wellington and then second overall at Ronde de l’Isard in France.
After two full years with RadioShack ,where he made his Grand Tour debut at the Giro d’Italia in 2013, he moved to Cannondale and capped the year completing the Vuelta a España.
LottoNL-Jumbo then became his home for seven seasons. In 2016, his second year with the team, Bennett had a breakthrough year which saw him make his Tour de France and Olympic Games debuts and finish 10th overall at the Vuelta. Bennett won his first career GC title at the 2017 Amgen Tour of California, including two stage podiums across a steady week of riding. He earned a pair of top 10s on stages 9 and 12 at the Tour de France, which put him in 12th position overall, but illness forced him to abandon stage 16.
The New Zealander took top 10 at the 2018 Giro d'Italia. The next year he was sixth overall at Paris-Nice and then returned to the Amgen Tour of California after missing the previous year and finished fourth overall.
In 2020 he went back-to-back with a victory at Gran Piemonte and second at Il Lombardia. The 2021 season began with a New Zealand road title and he took the silver medal in the individual time trial. He had three top 10s on stages at the Giro, finishing 11th overall.
The 2022 season saw Bennett in the new colours of UAE Team Emirates and he racked up four GC top 10s - New Zealand Cycle Classic, Vuelta a Castilla y Leon, Tour de l’Ain and Tour de Langkawi - however, one main goal was to help Tadej Pogačar at the Tour de France. That quest was derailed with a positive test for COVID-19, which did not allow him to start stage 9. Pogačar ended up finishing second behind Jumbo Visma’s Jonas Vingegaard.
The Tour de Suisse was a key target in 2023 in a Tour build-up, but Bennett was caught in a crash on stage 2 in Switzerland and then pulled out before stage 5. He went to the Tour of Austria, finishing seventh on GC, after not being selected for a sixth Tour de France.
The New Zealander signed a two-year contract to race for Israel-Premier Tech in 2024 and 2025, strengthening the ProTeam's climbing squad.
2023
🥈 New Zealand Road Nationals time trial
2022
🥈 One stage and GC at Vuelta a Castilla y Leon
Fourth GC at Tour de Langkawi
2021
🥇 New Zealand Road Nationals road race
🥈New Zealand Road Nationals time trial
🥉 One stage Giro d’Italia
2020
🥇 Gran Piemonte
🥈 Il Lombardia
🥈 One stage Vuelta a Burgos
🥈 New Zealand Road Nationals road race
🥈 New Zealand Road Nationals time trial
2019
🥉 One stage at Amgen Tour of California
Fourth GC Amgen Tour of California
2018
🥈 Two stages Tour of the Alps
2017
🥇 GC at Amgen Tour of California
Related Articles
![ADELAIDE AUSTRALIA JANUARY 13 George Bennett of New Zealand and Team Israel Premier Tech competes during the 17th Down Under Classic 2024 Mens Elite a 135km 1 hour 1 lapkm one day race from Adelaide to Adelaide on January 13 2024 in Adelaide Australia Photo by Tim de WaeleGetty Images](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EAuVhJZs9y3TGKX5op9fKd-320-80.jpg)
George Bennett finds 'selfish gene again' as GC leader with Israel-Premier Tech
By Sophie Smith published
Feature Kiwi climber relaxed at Tour Down Under with freedom to go for Grand Tour stage wins in 2024
![George Bennett (UAE Team Emirates) in action for UAE Team Emirates at the 2023 Tour de Suisse](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WtryewYRV4g2SubozKa5cL-320-80.jpg)
George Bennett signs two-year deal with Israel-Premier Tech
By Daniel Ostanek published
News 'I see a lot of opportunities, especially in Grand Tours and in the high mountains' says New Zealander
![Niamh Fisher-Black on the podium at the 2023 Road World Championships in Wollongong after winning the U23 title in the road race](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7FVdd2soCiBPYV6XKeWas4-320-80.jpg)
Niamh Fisher-Black leads youthful New Zealand women's team for Road Worlds
By Simone Giuliani published
News George Bennett to don silver fern in Glasgow with elite men's squad including Patrick Bevin, Laurence Pithie, Corbin Strong
![George Bennett crashed on stage 2 of the Tour de Suisse](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kUdWMbBT3EXwdxZmT6gsST-320-80.jpg)
'Absolute dog of a sport sometimes' – Crashes force George Bennett and Jay Vine out of Tour de Suisse
By Barry Ryan published
News UAE Team Emirates lose two riders ahead of key mountain stage
![George Bennett (UAE Team Emirates) in pursuit on stage 3 of the Tour Down Under 2023](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8p76BZoQ3jU8AuzX6BiuWi-320-80.jpg)
George Bennett – From 'as cracked as a man can get' to ready to roll with the punches
By Simone Giuliani published
Interview 'I just want to get back to being good again' says New Zealand rider after hopeful start to 2023 following 'horrible' 2022
![George Bennett (UAE Team Emirates) in action at the Tour de l'Ain](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8jhvbQoJd2C7pS5oXje8oP-320-80.jpg)
George Bennett chases Tour de Langkawi opportunity before turning page on tough 2022
By Simone Giuliani published
News UAE Team Emirates rider enters pivotal GC Genting Highlands stage among the favourites
![LEUVEN BELGIUM SEPTEMBER 23 LR Connor Brown of New Zealand and Jack Bauer of New Zealand during the 94th UCI Road World Championships 2021 Training flanders2021 on September 23 2021 in Leuven Belgium Photo by Luc ClaessenGetty Images](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/qGWvGv2vhcyDF3fKEKo5D3-320-80.jpg)
Skeleton New Zealand team at Worlds after riders asked to pay own way
By Simone Giuliani published
News No George Bennett with James Fouche sole elite men's competitor, Niamh Fisher-Black to lead women's team of four
![LLEX FRANCE AUGUST 11 George Bennett of New Zealand and UAE Team Emirates attacks during the 34th Tour de lAin 2022 Stage 3 a 131km stage from Plateau dHauteville to Llex 904m TDA22 on August 11 2022 in Llex France Photo by Bas CzerwinskiGetty Images](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TBjMPaT3NyCU7hDPHZ7FJ8-320-80.jpg)
George Bennett derailed by freak ice sock mishap at Tour de l'Ain
By Patrick Fletcher published
News 'I felt good but I’m a bit disappointed with the result' says UAE rider
Blogs
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Nathan Haas calls gravel course 'raw, fast, exciting' after pre-ride with co-founder Valtteri Bottas -
UCI Gravel Worlds - new course, same criticisms cast doubt on event
Nathan Haas hears feedback from fellow riders on course elevation being 'selective without being stupid' -
Nathan Haas blog: We need to talk about the Unbound mud pit
Was it wrong to not re-route the course?