[6][7] Stage 1 of the 2006 Tour de France started with a seven-man break-away with Bénéteau being the last man caught with 7km to go after spending 177km out in front.

[8] During Stage 6 Bénéteau was hit in the face by Spaniard David de la Fuente causing his glasses and helmet to go flying.

[9] Then in Stage 9 Bénéteau was part of an initial 3-man break-away, caught with only 10km to the finish line.

[11] Bénéteau's final Grand Tour was the 2006 Vuelta a España; he finished first in the main peloton bunch sprint in stage 11, 15 minutes down on winner Egoi Martínez.

[14][15] Bénéteau announced he would retire after his contract ended with Bouygues Télécom.