Sam Bennett, a former Tour de France green jersey winner, underwent heart surgery after experiencing a health scare. He opened up about his atrial fibrillation (AFib) diagnosis, which he discovered in November. Bennett's condition may have been affecting him for some time before it became fully apparent.
The 35-year-old cyclist, who won two stages and the green jersey at the 2020 Tour de France and two stages at the Vuelta a España two years later, had to withdraw from the race due to Covid-19. He hasn't been able to return to his previous level of performance.
Bennett explains that his AFib symptoms started around November 13th or 14th, but he believes it may have been present for a longer period. He describes feeling light flutters and palpitations, which he initially attributed to a Whoop device he was wearing. The device showed an ECG reading indicating AFib, leading him to seek medical attention.
The procedure, known as ablation, involves burning off incorrect parts of the heart and speeding up the heart rate to identify other potential causes of irregular heartbeat. Bennett underwent the procedure in Frankfurt, Germany, and it was successful.
Due to the risk of excessive bleeding, Bennett had to go on blood thinners and couldn't train on the road. His recovery took three months, and he had to take it slow, returning to training in January. He hopes to return to racing in March, but his recent health issues and the link between Covid and heart problems have raised concerns.
Bennett discusses the possibility of his AFib being related to his Covid diagnosis, but he remains cautious. He mentions feeling something was affecting his sprints, despite hitting good training numbers. The specialist suggested that his top two chambers were beating twice as fast as the lower two chambers, potentially causing a loss of performance in sprints.
Heart arrhythmia is not uncommon in sports, and multiple studies have shown that endurance exercise can increase the risk. Bennett shares that he is aware of other riders with similar issues and emphasizes the importance of early detection and treatment.
He encourages the use of smartwatches with ECG capabilities to catch symptoms early. Despite the fear of the unknown, Bennett wants to share his story to help others understand that AFib is treatable and doesn't have to be a barrier to a successful athletic career.
Looking ahead, Bennett is excited about his new team, Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling, and is determined to reach his best level again. He acknowledges the pain of losing races and is eager to compete at the top level. With the support of his coach, Kurt Bogaerts, and his own resilience, Bennett is confident in his ability to make a comeback.
