SAM BENNETT made history on Sunday by securing a famous victory - and the green jersey - in the final stage of the Tour de France.
The Carrick-on-Suir man etched his name into Irish sporting folklore after crossing the line at the Champs-Élysées and winning his second stage of the tour, following a heart-pounding sprint finish.
It made Bennett the first Irishman to win a major jersey at one of the three Grand Tours since Sean Kelly won green at the Tour for the fourth and final time in 1989.
President Michael D. Higgins took to social media to offer Bennett his congratulations: "Winning two stages and the green jersey in one of the hardest Tours of recent years is an enormous achievement, and one that will be celebrated by all those who love cycling and Irish sport."
Earlier this month, he became just the sixth Irishman in history to win a stage of the Tour de France, with victory at Stage 10, and he managed to do it again last night.
He also became just the fifth rider in cycling history to enter the final stage of the tour wearing green and win it.
YESSSSSSSS!!!! 🇮🇪🏆💚🥇
Tá sé buaite aige!!!!!
✅Staid 21
✅Geansaí uaine
Chapeau @Sammmy_Be !!! 🏆💚#TDF2020 pic.twitter.com/8US0xtSFAJ— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) September 20, 2020
"I can't tell you how excited I am, the green jersey, the Champs-Élysées, the world championships of sprinting," said Bennett.
"I never thought I'd ever be able to win this stage, and to do it in green is so special, and for my dream team, Deceuninck-Quick-Step, the way the boys rode all, they were fantastic, it’s just such an amazing feeling.
"All that suffering during the mountains, so worth it now. All the years trying to come up, trying to make it, it took me so long to get here, I’m just going to enjoy every moment of it."
See More: Irish Cyclist, Sam Bennett, Tour De France
