Decathlon AG2R with Bennett and a team full of attackers, but no spot for young climber Staune-Mittet

Sprinter Bennett is no stranger to the Giro either. He’s raced it twice, with his most recent appearance in 2018, when the now 34-year-old Irishman had a highly successful run, taking three stage wins. It’s been seven years since then, but he’s had a solid 2025 so far, with two stage wins in both the Tour de la Provence and the Pays de la Loire Tour. He’ll be supported in the sprints by Norwegian Tord Gudmestad, who has frequently served as his go-to lead-out man.

Geoffrey Bouchard and Andrea Vendrame also have fond memories of the Giro. The Frenchman won the mountains classification in 2021, while the Italian has already claimed two stage wins, one in 2021 and another just last year, in a tough stage 19. Both riders will be given every opportunity to go on the attack in search of more stage glory.

The other riders selected include Dorian Godon, Dries De Bondt, Stan Dewulf, and Nicolas Prodhomme. It’s a well-balanced squad, with Belgians Dewulf and De Bondt also able to support sprinter Bennett. Godon performs well on rolling terrain and has a decent sprint, while Prodhomme - who recently won a stage at the Tour of the Alps - will be targeting stage victories in the mountains.

Surprisingly, there is no spot for Johannes Staune-Mittet in the lineup. The 23-year-old Norwegian joined the team this winter from Visma | Lease a Bike and is regarded as a major grand tour prospect. His season has been somewhat sluggish so far, but he showed signs of progress at the Tour de Romandie, where he finished 12th overall. However, that wasn’t enough to convince team management that he deserved a place in the Giro squad, he won’t be traveling to Albania.