IRISH ACE SAM Bennett won stage 1 of Paris-Nice on Sunday, timing a late surge to perfection in a mass bunch sprint.
It was a fourth stage win on this race for Bennett as he surged past 2019 world champion Mads Pedersen in second while Frenchman Arnaud Demare came third after his lead out man fell during the run-in.
“I got into the right position with 1km to go and just stayed calm and made my move 150m out,” said Bennett, who won two stages of the UAE Tour in February.
Bennett’s power left his rivals trailing and with two more sprints expected on the eight-day run to Nice, the 2020 Tour de France sprint jersey winner appears even stronger this season.
There was bad news for Ineos as Richie Porte fell with 30km to go and pulled out on stage 1 of his first race on his return to Dave Brailsford’s team.
Monday’s second stage is a 188km run from Oinville-sur-Montcient outside Paris towards Amilly as the 1,200km event known as ‘the Race to the Sun’ begins its long slog South.
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He’s something else!! Congratulations and continued success Sam!!!
Brilliant win.
Yellow Jersey too. Ireland used to own this yellow jersey in the 80′s. Nice to have it back.
Great win by Bennett.
@David O’Donaghue: The leaders jersey was actually white when Roche and King Kelly comandeered it. Super win by Sam, great chance of going 2 from 2 tomorrow.
How many times did Kelly win this race,? Interesting to compare Kelly and Bennett. Sam is def the no.1 sprinter at the moment, as was Kelly back in the day. Think Kelly was more of an all rounder, as well as winning Green in TDF, (4 times i think,), he also won The Tour of Spain, as well as loadsof one day events. While Bennett won green at this year’s TDF, would love to see him win some more one day classics.Probably unfair to compare him to Kelly yet, but Bennett will only get better.
@running man: Sam won’t get a whole lot better than he is right now, he was brilliant two years ago, last year he wasn’t quite 100% imo but was still good enough to win what he did. This year, he’s back to his 2019 form, maybe even a tad better I suspect. He’s about as strong as he will ever be right now. As for comparing him to Kelly, they’re completely different riders, Kelly was very fast but would never have been the fastest sprinter in the world like Sam. Kelly could do things Sam will never do, he can’t win Flanders (Kelly famously never won here but was 2nd three times), Roubaix, Liege, Lombardy or a Grand Tour, but he could emulate him on the Via Roma in Milano – San Remo if the chips fell accordingly in that race.
@The Sports Derd: I don’t think the Poggio suits him Derd and at nearly 300kms it’s a helluva trek for a big sprinter. Hopefully I’m completely wrong.
@John McCabe: Sam can get over the Poggio, when on song he’s an excellent climber for a sprinter (as seen in the Giro, Dauphine and Vuelta), plus he has the benefit of an “easy” ride to the Cipressa. The problem is riders like Alaphilippe, WVA and MVDP, they’ll attack and distance the peloton, best case scenario is they look at each after the descent and the group catches back. Fingers crossed.
@The Sports Derd: Some good points there, although i remember watching Kelly in his pomp at a bunch sprint, there was’nt too many could match him, would have been in the top 2 or 3 sprinters in his day.Was also world no.1 ranked rider for something like 50 weeks. Would love to see Bennett, Sagan and Cavendish in a sprint to the line, some rubber burnt there!
@The Sports Derd: Struggled last year but a year older and wiser.
@The Sports Derd: One of those chips to fall will have to be one of his team mates. Think Alaphilippe will be up for another win here after last years near miss.
@David O’Donaghue: Absolutely, a lot will depend on Alap. He was missing a few percent at Strade so I’m sceptical he can win San Remo in a fortnight. If he can go with MVDP on the Poggio and refuse to ride, it might negate the attack and bring a reduced bunch sprint into the equation. That’s the dream scenario for Sam.
@The Sports Derd: also has a great chance at Cheltenham!!
@The Sports Derd: Nice scenario and quite possible too.