Sam Bennett finished outside the top 10 on his debut for
new team Deceuninck-QuickStep early this morning in Australia.
The Irish rider was in action at the Schwalbe Classic
Criterium in Adelaide, the traditional Tour Down Under warm-up event.
The race was won by Caleb Ewan (Lotto Soudal) in dominant
fashion; the Australian easily the best in the rain-hit 50km contest.
He won the sprint just ahead of Elia Viviani, who was
riding his first race of Cofidis. The final step on the podium was filled by
Viviani’s lead-out man Simone Consonni.
The top six was completed by Jasper Philipsen (UAE Team
Emirates), Kristoffer Halvorsen (EF Pro Cycling) and Alberto Dainese (Team
Sunweb); in that order.
Bennett’s lead-out rider Michael Mørkøv was next after
the Irishman seemed too far back and then did not really feature in the gallop.
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Afterwards Deceuninck-QuickStep explained that Bennett had
seen his final few laps interrupted by a crash, though he did not fall.
“A late crash split that occurred on a tricky left-hand
corner split the field and slowed down Irish champion Sam Bennett,” the team
said.
“(He) found himself at the back and tried hard to return
to the front of the group as the race entered in the final kilometres.
“Unfortunately, it didn’t happen, the speed being well
over 50km/h at that point, and this meant Michael Mørkøv took over sprinting
duties, finishing in seventh place.”
Bennett is next up on stage 1 of the Tour Down Under on
Tuesday; the opener a flat stage around Tanunda that should suit him.
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