Cyclist George Bennett Wins NZ Title After Tough 18 Months

George Bennett crossed the finish line alone near Cambridge, New Zealand, pumping his fists after a gutsy 30-kilometer solo ride that earned him his second national cycling championship.

The 35-year-old professional cyclist made his winning move with three laps remaining in the 188-kilometer race. After staying sheltered in a six-rider breakaway for most of the race, Bennett got the call from his director to attack early.

He surged away from the lead group and never let them catch up. The World Tour rider held off the entire field across three demanding solo laps to claim the national title, five years after his first win on the same Cambridge course.

The victory marked Bennett's first win in 18 months and the first for his revamped NSN Cycling World Tour team. The Nelson native admitted the rough stretch made this championship even sweeter.

"I have had a really rough 18 months so this means the world," Bennett said after the race. "To finally win a race again with my friends, my family, my teammates all here. I am really proud to win this."

Bennett credited smart racing for the win. He picked the right breakaway group and stayed patient while they worked together to keep the chasing pack behind them. When the gap started shrinking and a sprint finish seemed likely, he made his bold move.

"Most of the time that move doesn't work but at least next time it doesn't work out, I can remember this one," Bennett said with a laugh.

Why This Inspires

Bennett's win shows that patience and persistence pay off, even when success feels far away. He spent 18 months without a victory, but he kept showing up and racing smart. His breakthrough came not from luck but from reading the race perfectly and trusting his legs when it mattered most.

Now he gets to wear New Zealand's national champion jersey on the World Tour circuit. His big goal is the Tour de France this summer, where he'll proudly represent his country on cycling's biggest stage.

The victory proves that comebacks are real when you keep believing in yourself.