Sam Bennett collected his 13th win of the season on La Vuelta today and now has more victories in 2019 than any other cyclist in UCI-ranked races.
Bennett’s win today takes him into the lead in the win
rankings, and he is now one ahead of a group of three other riders all on 12
victories.
Orluis Aular of the Continental level Matrix Powertag has
12 wins, as does Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-QuickStep) and Dylan Groenewegen
(Jumbo-Visma).
Bennett said he was delighted with his victory today,
adding having suffered through the mountains it came as a relief to get a
chance to sprint and then succeed.
“Today was the first time in a while on this race that
the sprinters had an opportunity for a fast finish,” he said.
“The win means so much to me. Win number 13: my lucky
number. I want to say a huge thank you to the guys for working so hard for me.
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“They controlled the race all day and made sure the break
didn't make it to the line again on this race.
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“Let's hope win number 13 brings even more luck our way.
Morale is super high in the team and I'm grateful to everyone for making
today's win possible.”
Bennett confirmed while be performed a somewhat muted
celebration on the line, he was not certain he had won.
“I was afraid to celebrate because I wasn’t really on the
front until 6 or 5ks to go,” he said of his uncertainty about where some riders
were still clear.
“I didn’t know whether to celebrate or not, I’ve made
that mistake in the past, and it’s so embarrassing.”
He added his Bora-hansgrohe team mates had done a fantastic
job for him again before the tricky finish with a late incline.
That tough run-in was made more complicated by a large
crash with 1km to go, though the Irish rider was among about 20 riders at the
front who were untroubled by the pile-up.
“I heard a crash, but it was behind, then QuickStep came
fully organised and ready for the sprint, and also UAE; it didn’t really affect
the front of the bunch,” he explained.
Pro cycling 2019: Wins tally
- Bennett Sam BORA-hansgrohe 13
- Aular Orluis Matrix Powertag 12
- Alaphilippe Julian Deceuninck-QuickStep 12
- Groenewegen Dylan Jumbo-Visma 12
- Ewan Caleb Lotto Soudal 10
- Viviani Elia Deceuninck-QuickStep 10
- Roglič Primož Team Jumbo-Visma 10
- Ackermann Pascal BORA-hansgrohe 10
- Laporte Christophe Cofidis 9
- Coquard Bryan Vital Concept-B&B Hotels 8
- Balkan Onur Salcano Sakarya BB Team 8
- Laas Martin Team Illuminate 8
- Vahtra Norman Estonia 8
- Lutsenko Alexey Astana Pro Team 8
- Dainese Alberto SEG Racing Academy 7
- Bonifazio Niccolò Team Total Direct Energie 7
- Tzortzakis Polychronis Tarteletto-Isorex 7
- Pogačar Tadej UAE-Team Emirates 7
- van der Poel Mathieu Corendon-Circus 7
- Dyball Benjamin Team Sapura Cycling 7
- Kaňkovský Alois Elkov-Author Cycling Team 7
- Paterski Maciej Wibatech Merx 7R 6
- Kristoff Alexander UAE-Team Emirates 6
- Jakobsen Fabio Deceuninck-QuickStep 6
- Kump Marko Adria Mobil 6
- Impey Daryl Mitchelton-Scott 6
- Hodeg Álvaro José Deceuninck-QuickStep 6
- Herrada Jesús Cofidis, Solutions Crédits 6
- Steimle Jannik Team Vorarlberg Santic 6
- Schachmann Maximilian BORA–hansgrohe 6
- de Kleijn Arvid Metec-TKH Continental 6
- Valverde Alejandro Movistar Team 5
- Sagan Peter BORA–hansgrohe 5
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