Sam Bennett described a bruising day in the crosswinds on the opening stage of Paris-Nice and videos show tress down on the route. They were cut up with chainsaws and cleared before the riders arrived.
Irish sprinter Sam Bennett had been hoping to win the opening stage of Paris-Nice and take the yellow jersey but had to settle for 4th place.
He was in a good position in the final sprint to the line but lacked a little in the last 100 metres or so.
After the stage, which saw the race split up significantly in the crosswinds, Bennett said the fight for position had been draining.
And while he was in the front group and stayed tucked into it nicely, the earlier part of the stage was less comfortable for him.
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That meant energy lost and when he reached for top gear in the final gallop, his usual rapid late kick wasn’t there this time around.
Still, Sam Bennett may have another chance today and again tomorrow. It is also possible stage four will come down to a sprint.
“Today I didn't ride my best race,” he said after the opener won by Dylan Groenewegen (Jumbo-Visma) from Caleb Ewan (Lotto-Soudal).
Team Sky's riders played a big role in driving the front group forward when the race split in the crosswinds.
“I was always playing catch up on this short but windy stage with all those echelons, which did cost a lot of energy.
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“In the finale, I didn't have the legs. But I think it was just a bad day. I expect my legs to come around for the next stages.
“The boys did their best to deliver me to the finish and I hope to repay their efforts soon.”
Sports director Jens Zemke said the strong winds, which were even worse in other parts of Europe forcing race cancelations, were the key factor on stage 1 at Paris-Nice.
“It made the race very nervous,” he said of a stage run off on a day when tress blew onto the course and had to be cleared, see video below.
“The tension was high and nobody wanted to lose time on the first day and be forced to give up his ambitions.
“In the last hour of racing, several teams put their cards on the table and the pack split into pieces.
“In the finale, we had Sam competing for the victory against a number of world class sprinters but, ultimately finishing in fourth place.
“He was unable to fulfill his dream of winning the opening stage here,” he added of the Irish cyclist who won a stage two years ago.
The crosswinds, doing all the damage
? Le vent s'est invité à la fête de la première étape.
? The wind plays his role in this first stage. #ParisNice pic.twitter.com/DnijDMUck7— Paris-Nice (@ParisNice) March 10, 2019
1ère étape de #ParisNice done !
?♂️????
MERCI @Les_Yvelines @Prefet78 @StGermainLaye @villepoissy et aux forces de l’ordre pour leur professionnalisme toute de cette journée afin que @ParisNice puisse se dérouler dans de bonnes conditions ????? pic.twitter.com/llrGC9BszE— Aurélien Janssens (@oreljanssens) March 10, 2019
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