Tiesj Benoot nears Decathlon debut following surgery setback
Two of Decathlon CMA CGM's key signings for 2026 have suffered setbacks that have delayed their campaigns, but there are positive signs for both riders, with their debuts on the horizon.
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Tiesj Benoot is edging closer to making his long-awaited return to racing, having not pinned on a race number since Il Lombardia last October.
Having spent four seasons with Visma | Lease a Bike from 2022 to 2026, the 32-year-old Belgian, alongside Olav Kooij, made the switch from the Dutch team to Decathlon CMA CGM.
Neither Benoot nor Kooij have made their debuts for the French team. Kooij has been plagued by a persistent virus. Meanwhile, Benoot has suffered back pains in his winter preparations, with tests confirming a hernia which required surgery.
Fortunately for the team, Kooij is set to make his debut for the team at the French stage race, Boucles de la Mayenne, on May 28. There is a positive update regarding Benoot, whose return to racing is also expected to be soon.
According to Het Laatste Nieuws, Benoot has been on an altitude training camp with his Decathlon teammates in Sierra Nevada.
Het Laatste Nieuws have also reported that Benoot could make his debut for Decathlon at the Tour de Suisse if all goes to plan in Sierra Nevada.
The Tour de Suisse begins on June 17, with a provisional start list that includes Tadej Pogačar, with Mathieu van der Poel, Tom Pidcock and Primož Roglič all touted to appear.
With Paul Seixas set to make his Tour de France debut this summer, Benoot could be a valuable addition to the squad. Benoot was part of the squads that supported Vingegaard to victory at the Tour in 2022 and 2023, illustrating his value as a teammate.
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