Sam Bennett has today become just the tenth Irish rider in the history of the race to finish the Tour de France, and the 25 year-old finished on a high. Bennett took ninth in the sprint finish on the Champs=Elysées which was won by André Greipel (Lotto-Soudal) and this marked his best stage placing in the race.

The Carrick-on-Suir rider has put in a tremendous fight since the opening stage to make it to Paris and it’s a testament to his courage, that he didn’t pull out.

Bennett crashed in the sprint finish on the very first stage of the race in Normandy and suffered a fractured finger and abrasions. However, he persevered despite the injuries and even managed to finish in 12th place on Stage 14 to Villars-les-Dombes Parc des Oiseaux.

Bennett finished in the Lanterne Rouge position which denotes the last-placed finisher.

His battle to finish the Tour has some similarities to the very first Irish finish. In 1958, Dubliner Shay Elliott also struggled to get through the race having crashed and suffered other bad luck. It was also his second attempt at the race.

Photo: Christian René Miller
Photo: Christian René Miller

Elliott did manage to make it to Paris though in 48th position overall. Five years later, he would go on to win a stage and also wear the yellow jersey for a number of stages.

Sean Kelly was the next Irish rider to finish the Tour, having completed the race on his first attempt in 1978. He finished in 34th position overall and would go on to complete the race another 11 times.

Sean Kelly in the 1989 Tour de France (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)
Sean Kelly in the 1989 Tour de France (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Five years after Kelly, Stephen Roche would also finish the Tour on his first attempt in 1983. Of course, Roche would go on to win the race overall in 1987. Two other Irish riders would also complete the Tour during that decade.

Stephen Roche won the Tour in 1987 (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)
Stephen Roche won the Tour in 1987 (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Martin Earley finished in 60th place overall in his first Tour in 1985 and the following year, Paul Kimmage made it to Paris in 131st place.

In 1991, Laurence Roche riding for the Tonton Tapis team alongside his brother Stephen also finished the race in 153rd place on his one and only attempt.

Once again, there would be another long gap between Irish entrants. In 2004, former World Junior Road Race Champion Mark Scanlon completed the Tour, finishing in 89th position. As with Laurence Roche, it was his only time to ride the Tour.

Nicolas Roche rode his debut Tour in 2009, finishing a fine 23rd overall. Since then, he has ridden it another six times with 12th overall in 2012 his best finish. Roche’s cousin Dan Martin became the ninth Irish rider to complete the Tour when he finished in 35th place on his debut in 2012. The following year, he would win the ninth stage of the race.

Dan Martin became the fifth Irish stage winner in 2013 (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)
Dan Martin became the fifth Irish stage winner in 2013 (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Despite, just ten riders having completed the Tour de France, Irish riders have punched above their weight. In addition to one overall win, there have also been four green jersey wins and three sprint classification wins through Sean Kelly.

Five of the nine riders have won a total of 11 stages, and Kelly and Elliott have also both worn the yellow jersey.

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