CyclistI want to go for as long as I can: George Bennett Q&AAfter working for others for many years, this year youre focussing more on your own goals. Was this a key factor when you moved from UAE Team Emirates to Israel-Premier Tech?It was something I was seeking out. I like working for people but I definitely get a better version of myself going for results. I like the balance. Like this year Ive spent a lot of time riding for other people already, but Ive had Abruzzo [Giro dAbruzzo, where he came third] and Ill get other chances. Related Posts We expect a completely new level from Tadej Pogaar: Mauro Gianetti Q&A Everything leads towards the Olympics: Josh Tarling Q&A Valentin Madouas Q&A: The one major objective for my career is to win a stage at the Tour de France It took me a while to learn how to ride for other people when Rogli came along [Bennett was at Jumbo-Visma with Primo Rogli until 2022]. Its not that I dont like it. Riding for a guy like Stevie Williams [teammate at Israel-Premier Tech] is great; its easy when its your mates. I enjoy that aspect, but I do need those times to ride for myself.The team environment seems really positive. Was that a big draw?You look at everything when youre looking at teams: your role, equipment, how the team is run in terms of business, performance, all the systems they have in place. Another thing is the intangible vibe, the atmosphere, the momentum they have a good group of guys that all enjoy each others company. We hang out together, we train together outside of races. Its important and it creates that momentum. And it means that theres more cohesiveness on race day.Eloise Mavian/TornantiPhysically youre in great shape. Have you changed anything? The big changes are around the race programme, not just going from race to race and being absolutely in a shell. Last year I did crazy stuff. I was at the nationals in New Zealand on Sunday, flew that night, was racing on Tuesday or Wednesday, and on the road for six weeks. Theyre the kinds of things that I just dont have the engine for. Ive got an OK engine if its treated well. It has to come straight out the workshop and I can be good for sure, but it has to be very well-tuned.It helps that my trainer and I have a really good partnership. He respects the fact that Ive been doing this a long time and I know what works for me. I know what really gets me going well. I stumbled across that recipe years ago but in the last few years I havent had a chance to cook with it. Now Im doing it again and straight away Im seeing results.Youve supported top riders at Jumbo-Visma and UAE Team Emirates. What was the contrast like between those teams?UAE as a group was really fun. Tadej Pogaar was so talented that it just worked. It was very relaxed. I really enjoyed Jumbo for their professionalism I got that absolute process of the little things. I was probably more at home at Jumbo just because they knew me; they knew how I worked and what made me good.What are the biggest improvements youve seen in the sport throughout your career? There are the obvious ones: eating, altitude, equipment, aerodynamics. And thats accounted for all this change of speed, races being taken on further out. Off the bike, VeloViewer and knowledge from the DSes has changed racing a lot in my career. I used to look at a profile and go, Theres a climb here, theres a climb there. And youd be surprised by a lot of corners and a lot of climbs that you didnt know were there. Now everyones fighting for every corner.When I was 15, I would stay up all night on Saturday and do 100km with my friends on Sunday. I didnt even have my own road bike. Now at 15, kids are already weighing their food and going to altitude. By the time they turn pro they already know more about the sport than I knew when I was 25. Im yet to see how that affects them later in life. You hear, Oh, theyll have shorter careers, but for me theyll have more successful careers. Theyll be better for longer.Post-cycling, do you see yourself becoming a DS? Not a chance. Sitting in a team car looking at an iPad doesnt interest me one bit. I would stay in the sport, for sure. Im deeply interested in the aerodynamics and the physiological part of cycling, so I could see myself in some kind of performance role.Im 34 now, but honestly I still want to ride for four, five, six more years. Ive got no stopping point on the horizon, no date in my mind. I want to go for as long as I can.Whats your career highlight so far? Thats easy. Tour de France 2017. I was up there coming into the last week and then I got sick. So it was the best and the worst. It was this breakthrough stage for me; suddenly I was in the front group with Richie Porte and Chris Froome. I felt like Id broken through with the big boys. It was this magic moment in my life where I thought, I can be a GC rider at a Grand Tour.Outside of results, its times where Ive overcome problems, like the side stitch [Bennett had major surgery for slipping rib syndrome in 2019]. Thats been a fight for me for years, and stole years of my career. Then theres moments where you realise youre getting on top of it, and its just this relief, this euphoria, because the futures open for you, you know?What race would you love to win? Tour de France, obviously. To be the World Champion, thatd be unreal. This article originally appeared in issue 155 of Cyclist magazine. 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