Sam Bennett has abandoned Paris-Nice after his stage 3
crash yesterday. The Irish rider did not start today’s stage 4 TT and has left
the race to return home.
While he did not break any bones in Tuesday’s sprint
finish crash he suffered a gash to his hand that required stitching.
His team, Deceuninck-QuickStep, said its medical personnel
had reviewed Bennett again this morning and it was decided he should take no
further part in the race.
It was a disappointing end to the event for Bennett as he
lost out on a chance to win on the opening two stages when the field split to
pieces in crosswinds.
And though he was finally sprinting for victory yesterday
he came down hard inside the last 200 metres when Hugo Hofstetter (Israel
Start-Up Nation) lost his balance in what was a robust finale.
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Today’s 15.1km TT stage in Saint-Amand-Montrond was won
by Søren Kragh Andersen (Team Sunweb).
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The 25-year-old Dane was six seconds faster than
runner-up, and yellow jersey, Maximilian Schachmann (Bora-hansgrohe).
Bennett’s team mate Kasper Asgreen was in 3rd place on
the day, some 12 seconds down on Kragh Andersen.
The result means Schachmann has a commanding lead at the
top of the standings, with 58 seconds in hand over Kragh Andersen.
The race leader’s team mate Felix Großschartner is 3rd
overall, at 1:01. Best placed of the top climbers in the field is Sergio
Higuita (EF Pro Cycling).
The Colombian has ridden superbly in the crosswinds to
sit 5th overall at 1:06 with the climbing stages to come.
In Bennett’s absence, the only Irish rider left in the race is Ryan Mullen; the Trek-Segafredo rider finishing in 101st today at 2:12.
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