Matt Brammeier leads the breakaway in GP Scheldeprijs last year; a race that's arguably Ireland's best chance of a podium via Sam Bennett in those classics or semi classics to be decided in the next few weeks.
By Graham Healy
Although Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne have already taken place, the Spring classics really start in earnest tomorrow, Sunday, when Milan-San Remo takes place. So let’s have a look at where you can expect to see Irish riders in action in the first half od the spring races.
Milan-San Remo
Due to the Tour of Catalonia starting the day after where he aims to defend his title, Garmin-Sharp’s Dan Martin will not line up in Milan-San Remo tomorrow.
This leaves Nicolas Roche (Tinkoff – Saxo) as the sole Irish representative in the mammoth 294-kilometre race. Roche’s best finish in the race to date is 35th in 2009.
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He will likely ride tomorrow’s race in support of Roman Kreuziger who finished 3rd overall in last week’s Tirreno-Adriatico.
Favourites for the race include Mark Cavendish (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) and Peter Sagan (Cannondale). Team NetApp-Endura and UnitedHealthcare are amongst the wildcard invited teams, but neither Sam Bennett nor Martyn Irvine is down to start.
Dwars Door Vlaanderen
After Milan-San Remo, the action moves north to the cobbled classics, where Sam Bennett is listed amongst the starters in the UCI 1.HC semi-classic, Dwars Door Vlaanderen.
The 201-km race uses many of the climbs made famous in the Tour of Flanders, and Bennett will undoubtedly gain great experience racing against many of the top classics riders.
The race tends to favour opportunists, with Sylvain Chavanel (IAM Cycling) and Niki Terpstra (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) amongst the previous winners.
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Ghent-Wevelgem
Four days later, Bennett is also due to start in Ghent-Wevelgem. Fellow Carrick-on-Suir man, Sean Kelly took the only Irish win in 1988, and it’s a race that should also suit Bennett.
He has shown that he is capable of getting over smaller climbs, and if he can stay in touch over the two ascents of the Kemmelberg, then he could be in line for a decent result.
For this year’s edition it’s difficult to look beyond the likes of last year’s winner Sagan or Cavendish, Fabian Cancellara (Trek Factory Racing) and Andre Greipel (Lotto Belisol) for the win.
Scheldeprijs
Unfortunately there won’t be any Irish riders in the Tour of Flanders, so Scheldeprijs on the 9th of April will probably see the next Irish involvement.
Once again, both NetApp-Endura and UnitedHealthcare have been invited, and if selected, then this might offer Bennett his best chance of a good result in a semi-classic.
It usually comes down to a sprint, with Marcel Kittel (Giant-Shimano), Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Sharp) and Cavendish having won previously.
If a gallop indeed decides it, then based on his form so far this season a podium is a realistic aim for Bennett.
- We'll have more previews in the next few weeks before the rest of the classics and semi classics. Included will be Liege-Bastogne-Liege, where Dan Martin will be defending champion this year, as well as the other Ardennes classics - Amstel Gold and La Fléche Wallonne - where he, Roche and Philip Deignan could do well; not to mention the other events that Bennett and Irvine may ride before spring is out.
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