SAM BENNETT’S grandad reacted with delight to the Irish cyclist’s sensational Tour de France green jersey on Sunday.
Heartwarming footage of 89-year-old Pat Cashin cheering on his grandad was shared by Tipperary radio station Tipp FM.
It showed the proud grandfather willing Sam on to a famous victory which saw him become the first Irish rider since Sean Kelly in 1989 to win the Tour's points classification.
Watching on at home, where he has largely been housebound due to the coronavirus pandemic, Pat was ecstatic as Sam beat world champion Mads Pedersen in a sprint finish to take his second stage win of the Tour.
The win came after Bennett had already wrapped up the points classification at the intermediate sprint of the 122km stage from Mantes-la-Jolie.
“Come on Sam!” @Sammmy_Be’s grandad, Pat Cashin, cheers his grandson on to victory on the final stage of the Tour de France!
Had it not been for Covid, 89yo Pat would have there in person.
Full interview on #TippToday in the morning. pic.twitter.com/XqEKgKFmOm— Tipp FM (@TippFM) September 20, 2020
His wife, Tara, was similarly overjoyed at seeing her husband take a place on the podium of arguably the world’s biggest and best cycling event.
Tweeting a picture of him celebrating, Tara wrote"Somebody fu***ng pinch me. This can't be real."
Speaking after the race, an overjoyed Bennett said: "I can't tell you how excited I am, green jersey, the Champs-Elysées, I never ever thought I'd be able to win this stage.
"To do it in green is so special and to do it in my dream team Deceuninck-Quick-Step, the way the boys rode all day, they were fantastic.
"It's just so amazing, the feeling, I can't thank everyone enough.
"All the suffering through the mountains, it's so worth it now. All the years trying to come up and trying to make it, it took me so long to get here...I'm sorry if I'm coming across too arrogant but I'm just going to enjoy every moment of it."
See More: Sam Bennett, Tour De France
