Sam Bennett started Bemer Cyclassics, a one-day World Tour race in Germany, this morning but was forced out of the event not long after the start. The Irish rider was unfortunately suffering from stomach issues, meaning he was not fit to continue.
However, Bora-hansgrohe has now said the Irishman's next stop is Deutschland Tour, the five-stage race in Germany starting on Wednesday. That is the first official comment from the team that confirms Bennett will not ride La Vuelta, which starts next Saturday and clashes with Deutschland Tour.
Related News
News that Bennett is not riding La Vuelta is not unexpected, as the event was not on schedule. However, given the manner in which Bora-hansgrohe has moved its riders around in recent months, nothing was certain before now.
For example, the team said in the build-up to the Tour de France that Bennett was expected to be picked, only to select Jordi Meeus instead, even though the race was not on his schedule. Meeus went on to take a great win on the final stage into Paris.
Advertisement
Bennett's non-selection for the Vuelta - now confirmed though long anticipated - means the only Grand Tour he started during his two-year contract with Bora-hansgrohe was last year's Vuelta. He won two stages on that race, and looked on course for more, until Covid-19 forced him out at the halfway point.
In Bennett's absence from the final of today's race, his lead-out man, Danny van Poppel, stepped up to take 2nd place behind a flying Mads Pedersen (Lidl Trek). With a small group dangling off the front just before the finish, Pedersen went to the front of the peloton, closing down the leaders, passing them and just about holding off those coming through behind him.
Pedersen's seated effort to close the gap and win the race made for an incredible scene at the finish. And though van Poppel was one of those riders who came though late, Pedersen held them all off. Elia Viviani (Ineos Grenadiers) was 3rd, with Ireland's Ryan Mullen (Bora-hansgrohe) 137th in a group at 137.
