*Sam Bennett and Michael Mørkøv; a combination that can do serious damage*

He took his first win

Above all else, what really counts is that Sam Bennett already has a win under his belt so early in the 2020 season. This is exactly how he got last year underway – at Vuelta a San Juan in Argentina – and he didn’t look back; winning from January to September. This year an early win was far more important as Bennett has just joined a new team in Deceuninck-QuickStep. No matter what happens now in his remaining couple of races in Australia, the trip has already been a success for Bennett. Another win would be great, but the nerves take come with a big transfer should be settled already.

Mørkøv worth his weight in gold

Bora-hansgrohe was a very good team for Bennett; taking him from up and coming Continental rider to a WorldTour star. He took huge wins with the team, including five Grand Tour stages; three at Giro 2018 and two at last year’s Vuelta. But team support and a long-term, settled, lead-out set-up was not available to him, especially in his final year there. That has all changed with his move to Deceuninck-QuickStep. Michael Mørkøv piloted Bennett to the line in Australia and the duo looked like a very dangerous combination. They might have secured more than one win, but it will come. They are a partnership that looks like being formidable.

Lara Gillespie attacks Dolomite stage as Giro hits high mountains — *Popping wheelies for the crowds; always a good sign....*

Video - Ireland's Meehan climbs with best on brutal Alpine terrain — *Popping wheelies for the crowds; always a good sign....*

Bennett’s
form is very good

While taking a win is fantastic so early in the season, Bennett might have won even more. He was 2nd on stage 4 and claimed 3rd on stage 5. When finishing runner-up he said the road book guide to the finishing straight was misleading and scuppered his timing in the gallop. When he was 3rd a big gap opened up in front of him in the sprint but the Irishman came from a long way back and might have won. He was by far the fastest. The margin between taking one win or taking three was small. Bennett looked like he was in the form to take all three. And he also commented that he felt good on the climbs. Everything seems to be where it needs to be at this time of year and he can feel very confident already.

Rivals' form and lead-outs

While Sam Bennett could have won more than one stage; Caleb Ewan (Lotto-Soudal) actually went and did that. The Australian was victorious on stage 2 and stage 4. Still only aged 25 years, he just keeps getting better and better. He switched to his current team last year after indifferent support at Mitchelton-Scott (sound familiar?) and has motored since then; ten wins last year including two at the Giro and three at the Tour. He looks like being Bennett’s main rival this season. Another who will also have a big say is Elia Viviani, though the early signs are he has more work to do with his new Cofidis team to perfect their lead-out. There are others of course – Fernando Gaviria needs a big year and is capable of having one. But on the basis of the very early signs, Ewan and Bennett look like they have already begun where they left off last year.

Irishman centre stage in team

It
may sound like a small detail but Bennett is being treated as one of the stars
of Deceuninck-QuickStep’s publicity. He’s featuring prominently in their
photographs online and their social media output. Being a favoured rider in a
pro cycling team’s media output doesn’t win races and it doesn’t even make
riders go faster. But it’s a clear reflection of team pecking order and a complete
reversal of Bora-hansgrohe’s Sagan-centric approach last year.