Delight for Tipperary cyclist Sam Bennett following tonic victory in France

Sam Bennett completed his domination of the Four Days of Dunkirk (4 Jours de Dunkerque event by winning Sunday's final stage and outright victory.

The Tipperary cyclist was celebrating after claiming his first general classification win in a stage race, bringing his overall pro career tally to 67 wins.

He served notice of what was to come when he finished third in the opening stage of the six-day event, going on to win the second and third stages. He followed that up with a second place on the fourth stage and recorded back-to-back wins in stages five and six, which meant he was on the podium on all six days.

The 33-year-old Carrick-on-Suir rider's return to form is timely, with the Tour de France looming into view at the end of next month, in which he will hope to represent his latest team Decathlon Ag2r La Mondiale, which he joined at the start of this season.

He last raced in the Tour de France in 2020, when he won famously won two stages and claimed the green jersey for the overall points classification.

“I had the green jersey before. I want to go back to the Tour, I want to show I am still capable. That’s why I am still here,” he stated during the Four Days of Dunkirk.

The Tour starts in Florence on June 29 and finishes in Nice on July 21. The traditional Champs-Élysées finish has been moved this year, as the Paris Olympics begin on July 26.

His first stage win at the Four Days of Dunkirk was his first race success in 311 days, including 56 days of racing, since his two sprint stage wins in the Tour of Romania in July of 2023.