Sam Bennett (BORA – hansgrohe) took his best result at a Grand Tour today when he finished third on the fifth stage of the Giro d’Italia from Pedara to Messina.
The Irish sprinter’s team put on a great display in the closing kilometres to leave Bennett in a position to bid for victory on the stage won by Fernando Gaviria (Quick Step Floors).
Today’s 159-kilometre stage included a number of climbs in the opening before a flat run in towards the finish with the riders facing one lap of a finishing circuit. Two riders went clear early on – Maciej Paterski (CCC Sprandi-Polkowice) and Evgeny Shalunov (Gazprom-Rusvelo) – and spent much of the day out front.
With 60 kilometres remaining, their gap was less than three minutes and the pair were caught with fifteen kilometres remaining by the Bora-hansgrohe led peloton.
Lukas Pöstlberger and Rudi Selig were Bennett’s last lead-out men with the Irish rider coming off Selig’s wheel inside the closing two hundred metres. However, Gaviria passed Bennett with 75 metres remaining to take the win ahead of Jakub Mareczko (Wilier Triestina) with Bennett in third. The result shows that the Irishman is back in form after being dogged by illness in recent days.
Sam Bennett – “Yeah I am so happy with this result after being sick. The team did a fantastic job and led me out perfectly. Also, Rudi did an awesome leadout, he gave everything for me today. After being ill, I am so happy the team trusts me and this gives me so much confidence.”
Jens Zemke, Bora-hansgrohe sports director – “I am so proud of these boys. We dominated the last 14 kilometres, rode all together into the finale. Rudi and also the other boys led Sam perfectly. 5 stages and 3 podium results with three different young riders, I am more than happy!”
