News shorts: Bennett hunts in Belgium; also Nenagh, Broadford, Stamullen

Sam Bennett didn't get to contest the gallop that decided the 2015 edition of the 1.HC-ranked race Scheldeprijs because of a nasty crash in the final. He will be hoping for better luck this time out. And he has a seriously strong lead-out train to get him where he needs to be for the expected bunch sprint.

By Brian Canty

Sam Bennett is back in action today, Wednesday, in a race he will be rightly regarded as one of the favourites for.

The 104th Scheldeprijs is regarded as the informal sprinter’s world championships in the start town of Antwerp and the start-list is a who’s who of the fastest men in the business.

Few are faster than Bennett on his day and with a strong lead-out train to support him, he can definitely challenge the podium.

A bunch sprint is the expected outcome and what happens in the 207-kilometre race prior to the gallop is usually merely a sideshow.

Last year ended in disaster for Bennett when he was caught up in an horrific crash inside the final kilometre and he was lucky to walk away with just cuts and bruises - albeit severe ones.

Also in action are Matt Brammeier (Dimension-Data) and Ryan Mullen (Cannondale) and they’ll look to fine-tune their form ahead of Paris-Roubaix on Sunday.

Depending on what tactics their teams employ, they could feature in the breakaway at some point.

With so many riders going well at present, and the young guns pushing hard, the Nenagh Classic and the imminent showdown in one of Irish cycling's spiritual homes, Stamullen, should prove fantastic contests (Photo: John Coleman - DC Images)

GasNetworks Ireland Visit Nenagh Classic

Entries are now being taken for one of Ireland’s most prestigious one-day races, the Gas Networks Ireland VisitNenagh Classic on April 16th.

Pre-entry will stay open until the day before the race event or until race numbers have reached maximum capacity.

Women's and Masters races in Broadford

Newcastle West Cycling Club are hosting women's and masters road races this Saturday in Broadford.

The masters’ race is open to all master categories and will be four 20-kilometre laps plus three kilometres (83k in total).

There are prizes for the first six and also for the first two unplaced M50 and M60 riders.

They’ll be given a two-minute head-start on the M40 group. The women's race is open to senior, junior and U16 riders.

Again, there are prizes for the first six, plus two unplaced U16s, two unplaced juniors, two unplaced U23’s, two unplaced masters (35 Plus) and two unplaced novices*

A novice is defined as someone in their first or second year of racing. Sign-on is from 9am to 10.15am at Broadford soccer club.

More details here.