Sam Bennett not exactly devastated his team mate won instead of him

Sam Bennett not exactly devastated his team mate won instead of him

The look on the face of Sam Bennett in the Giro d'Italia opening sprint says it all...

Bora-hansgrohe had a dream start to its first Grand Tour as a WorldTour team. It may have put its eggs in the Sam Bennett basket; it was Lukas Pöstlberger who took victory.

Incredibly, he was claiming Austria's first ever stage win in the 100-years of the Giro. And now he holds the leader's pink jersey after the opening 206km stage in Sardinia into Olbia.

Pöstlberger's Rás win: “I felt I could have won every stage”

As the photo above shows, Bennett wasn't exactly devastated his team mate won instead of him.

He had a broad smile on his face as he looked up in the gallop to see his young team mate with his arms up in triumph.

So, how on earth did that happen? Bora-Hansgrohe's Sam Bennett explains... pic.twitter.com/HusX4YQAs1

— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) May 5, 2017

Now a force to be reckoned with in the sprints, Bennett was able to request the riders he wanted in the team for this Giro.

Pöstlberger Irish connection

Lukas Pöstlberger is well known to Irish cycling fans of course. He won the An Post Rás just two years ago.

And he progressed into Bennett's team on a trial later that year when it was know as Bora-Argon 18.

The Austrian (25) developed a great relationship with the Irish. And he even came back to ride the Junior Tour sportive that would save the race when it was in financial trouble.

Hopefully we will also see Bennett take a victory in time. No Irishman has won a stage in the Giro for 30 years.