The crash in the video below put an end to Sam Bennett's hopes of a stage win at the Arctic Tour of Norway, though thankfully he was not left with any broken bones. Above, Simon Spilak of Katusha beats new race leader Steven Kruijswijk (Belkin) to stage 3 victory today, Saturday.
Ireland's Sam Bennett went into the four-stage Arctic Tour of Norway nursing hopes of a stage win, but in the knowledge he'd need to get past Tour de France stage winners Marcel Kittel (Giant Shimano) and Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) if those hopes were to become a reality.
On Thursday's stage 1, the hilly finish - the most northerly race finish in the world, apparently - did not prove to be one for the sprinters, with the race splintering on the very testing finale.
Advertisement
Bennett had told stickybottle he was hopeful yesterday's stage 2 would be one for the sprinters and indeed it was, with Kristoff getting the verdict in the bunch gallop that settled the stage.
However, far from fighting it out with the other fast men, Bennett came down in a crash inside the last 10km. He stayed on the ground for a long time and while he got going again, his chances of winning were well and truly lost.
While he was left with just cuts and bruises, and thankfully no broken bones, he lost just over 10 minutes. And on today's stage 3, he lost 14 minutes; clearly suffering from the ill effects of his crash.
Simon Spilak of Katusha beat Steven Kruijswijk (Belkin) to stage 3 victory today; with that pairing finishing 15 seconds ahead of the bunch, led home by Jonathan Hivert (Belkin) and Kristoff.
Related News
Kruijswijk took the leader's jersey today, with Lars Petter Nordhaug of Belkin in second place; he won stage 1 on his own and started in the leader's jersey today. The race concludes tomorrow.
Have a look at Bennett's stage 2 crash below; very difficult to see what caused it.
Topics
