IRELAND’S SAM BENNETT had to settle for second place in the 13th stage of the Giro d’Italia, just 24 hours after claiming his second stage victory of this year’s race.
Italy’s Elia Viviani of the Quick Step team won the stage in a sprint finish to mark his third success of the event this year.
The 29-year-old Viviani had struggled on Thursday but hit back for his fourth stage success in total after back-to-back successes in Tel Aviv and Eilat in Israel.
Wearing the points leader’s jersey, Viviani produced a late burst of acceleration in the dying metres to finish ahead of Bennett in a dramatic push for the finishing line.
Bennett became the first Irishman to win a Giro d’Italia stage since 1987 on Friday after he powered to victory in the seventh stage of the race.
The Bora-Hansgrohe rider claimed the 12th stage yesterday after breaking away in the final 400 metres on the Imola motor racing circuit.
"He's in winning ways again!"
— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) May 18, 2018
Victory for @eliaviviani on Stage 13 💪 #Giro101 pic.twitter.com/GSY1qMIhNB
Dutch rider Danny Van Poppel took third place ahead of Italy’s Sacha Modolo on Friday.
The 180km stage from Ferrare and Nervesa della Battaglia suited the sprinters covering flat roads of the eastern Po Valley.
Britain’s Simon Yates (Mitchelton) holds the leader’s pink jersey on the eve of a gruelling mountain stage to the summit of Monte Zoncolan.
Additional reporting by Sinéad Farrell
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the guys on fire. fair play.
@Ardmore02: standard is slipping , needs to be more consistent
@Ardmore02: mistimed it today, but seeing how from how far back he came to get second, shows he’s better legs than the rest if he gets the timing right
So where does this leave him in the standings overall?
@Stephen Keane: 93rd
@Stephen Keane: Just checked it Stephen he is 93rd, he must of had a few lie ins for the earlier stages
@Stephen Keane: he’s 2nd in the points race. Excellent showing so far
@Stephen Keane: he’s a sprinter and not a GC contender. He’s 2nd in the running for the maglia ciclamino, the Giro’s version of the green jersey.