We’re staying Down Under and next up in the hot seat is Kiwi and new boy on the team, George Bennett, whose never say die attitude has got him where he is today. George is going to be telling us about his laid-back style, New Zealand and how he made it into the ProTour. Keep a look out for George and his Cannondale Pro Cycling team mates in this week’s Jayco Herald Sun Tour.
G4: You have some seriously stylish new team mates in Cannondale Pro Cycling. How would you define your own style?
GB: I guess it’s a bit of a cultural thing. In New Zealand we walk around in bare feet, shorts and singlet. Americans are more into their flannel shirts while Italians are slicker. I like all of it but I laugh when I see some of it. I can only imagine what people would say if they wore some of that stuff in New Zealand. Of course, it works both ways, what would people say if I wore here what I wear in New Zealand. I’m sure they’d laugh too. I like to pick up bits from all over and put together my own type of style, a sort of strange travelling gypsy style.
G4: Because of the amount of travelling you do, what’s important to you in your casual team clothes?
GB: I think with team kits you want something comfy because you’re wearing it for a long time. If the team kit’s bad, it’s okay in the hotel but, we do a lot of travelling and meet lots of people, so it’s important to look and feel good. We need to feel comfortable, well represent the team and look the part of a professional athlete.
G4: I’ve never visited New Zealand. What’s it like?
GB: Pretty cutting edge in terms of green technology; we’re forerunners in a lot of science and technology. But it’s very different from Europe in terms of attitudes. I love going home and I miss it a lot when I’m away. I don’t get to spend enough time there at all and, yeah, I think New Zealanders have a “can do” attitude. There’s nothing we can’t do, probably because we’re so far from anywhere and anyone else. So you kind of have to get it done yourself.
A lot of it comes from our farming background, where we make do fixing stuff with what we call “no. eight wire.” It breeds the right tough mentality, particularly for sports people. With a population of only four million we have an amazing number of riders with six men in the WorldTour, and countless others in the ProConti and Conti ranks, not forgetting amateurs and our strong teams in other cycling disciplines.
Indeed, our track programme’s another example of science leading the way and where we’ve a great development programme. It’s just a shame they focus so much attention on the track but it’s because we win medals (Olympics, World Cup and Commonwealth Games). If the same effort and resources were put into developing our road riders, there’s some serious talent there that would make a real impact on the sport.
G4: The lack of a road development programme in New Zealand meant you had to go over to Europe to progress?
GB: It was the best thing that ever happened to me but at the time it was the hardest thing I’d ever done. It seemed like the worst years of my life but looking back it was the thing that made me grow the most. But I’m one of the only ones I know that’s done that and made it through. I’ve seen fifty odd riders come over to France and Belgium and then go back because they found it too hard and couldn’t get a lucky break. It would be good for those that turn around and go home to have a thriving domestic scene to compete in and have something else to keep them going. Maybe they might not make ProTour, but could have a good career as a Conti or ProConti rider.
Plenty of food for thought from George, look out for part two of our chat tomorrow followed by part three on Friday.
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