Cycling news - Sam Bennett to join Deceuninck-QuickStep after BORA Hansgrohe deeparture

Bennet had been trying to change teams for several months before BORA Hansgrohe announced his departure from the team, citing difficulties in being able “align the team’s and rider’s goals.”

“After a great story of success in the past years, BORA Hansgrohe and Sam Bennett have decided to go separate ways,” read a statement on the BORA’s website.

Bennett did not attend Bora-Hansgrohe's recent winter get-together and is now clear to sign a contract with Deceuninck-QuickStep and pull on their blue and white colours.

Bennett, 29, was third-choice sprinter at Bora behind Peter Sagan and Pascal Ackermann, and had, reports L’Equipe, been sounding out potential teams and nearly signed with Movistar after the Critérium du Dauphiné in early June. The Irish sprinter’s omission from Bora’s squads for the Giro and the Tour de France is said to have been a deciding factor in his decision during his contract year.

“Over the last six years, BORA Hansgrohe developed Bennett into one of the best sprinters in the peloton. Against this background it however became more and more difficult to align the team’s and rider’s goals,” added the statement.

“BORA Hansgrohe wishes Bennett all the best for his future and hopes that he can live up to his sporting dreams.”