The biggest benefit of a triple is probably that on long climbs you can stay in the small ring the whole way and use the rear derailleur only.
Also, though, it is easier to learnt he crossover points with a 2x ... when you shift down up front and up a couple or few in back, or vice versa, to match revs and effort to be in the right ring for the upcoming terrain. I Can learn on a triple ... when I rode MTB a lot i had my 3x8 pretty much mastered, but I am just guessing on the Cannondale tourer.
Either way, whatever system you have learn to get the most our of it. With modern drive trains, changing gears is so simple and easy one hardly needs to think.