Sam Bennett completed a hat trick of victories on today’s final stage of the 54th Presidential Tour of Turkey (2.UWT) in Istanbul. In addition, he also won the points classification. Eduard Prades (Euskadi – Murias) won the race overall, having overtaken Alexey Lutsenko (Astana Pro Team) on the last day.
A fast start and fight to make it into the breakaway on the final stage marked the 164-kilometre flat stage and it took more than 50 kilometres for a breakaway to form as eight riders went up the road. Bennett’s BORA – hansgrohe team mates helped control the pace of the peloton and with 6 kilometres to go the pack caught the breakaway and with a predicted bunch sprint on the cards, the sprinter’s teams started to form their lead-out.
Approaching the flamme rouge, multiple Giro d’Italia stage winner Bennett launched a surprise attack and quickly established a large gap. This attack put the peloton on the back foot, scrambling to bring the Irishman back inside the final kilometre. However, a crash towards the front of the bunch hampered their efforts and Bennett held on to take another impressive win.
Sam Bennett – “Firstly, I want to thank the BORA – hansgrohe boys for their amazing work today. The whole team came together to put me exactly where I needed to be before I attacked. I can’t thank them enough. With the top10 on GC sitting so close on time, I knew I needed to just ride when the moment was right and it paid off! Attacks were imminent and the legs felt good so I made sure to get the win for the team and to take home the Sprint Jersey too. I’m so happy that this is how I’ve finished my 2018 season.”
