While Sam Bennett has lost more time on the Tour, it’s his rate of recovery after his crash rather than any performances that he and his team will be looking to.
Still nursing the nasty injuries he suffered when crashing in the bunch sprint that settled the opening day of the Tour de France, Sam Bennett has endured another tough outing on stage 4 today.
The Irishman riding for Bora-Argon 18 came home at the back of the field at the end of 232km from Saumer to Limoges.
He was 196th on the stage, some 8:58 behind the day’s bunch sprint victor Marcel Kittel (Etixx-QuickStep).
Bennett had said before the stage that he was focussed on simply trying to get through the next few stages in the hope he can recover.
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And the slow pace for much of yesterday’s stage 3 coupled with the mainly flat route today has given him the best chance in that regard.
The only other Irishman in the race, Dan Martin of Etixx-QuickStep, finished in the middle of the bunch today.
He rolled over the line in 59th place on a day when his team scooped their first stage win and is enjoying a crash-free race.
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Tomorrow’s stage 5 from Limoges to Le Lioran takes the riders 216km and over no fewer than six categorised climbs.
The first is a cat 4 at 16.5km but in the final 70km of racing there comes three cat 3 ascents and two cat 2 climbs.
The final climb – the cat 2 Col de Font Cére – is crested at 213.5km, just 2.5km from the finish meaning the big general classification riders may well be seen having a go off the front.
The parcours will not suit Bennett, but hopefully before the start tomorrow he will have gathered himself a little more, having already ridden so well to stay in the race.
Stage 4: of Saumer to Limoges (232km)
1 Marcel Kittel (Ger) Etixx - Quick-Step 5:28:30
2 Bryan Coquard (Fra) Direct Energie
3 Peter Sagan (Svk) Tinkoff Team
4 Dylan Groenewegen (Ned) Team LottoNl-Jumbo
5 Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Team Katusha
6 Sondre Holst Enger (Nor) IAM Cycling
7 Daniel McLay (GBr) Fortuneo - Vital Concept
8 Mark Cavendish (GBr) Dimension Data
9 Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
10 Simon Gerrans (Aus) Orica-BikeExchange
59 Dan Martin (Irl) Etixx-QuickStep
196 Sam Bennett (Irl) Bora-Argon18 8:58
General Classification
1 Peter Sagan (Svk) Tinkoff Team 20:03:02
2 Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Etixx - Quick-Step 0:00:12
3 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar Team 0:00:14
4 Warren Barguil (Fra) Team Giant-Alpecin 0:00:18
5 Christopher Froome (GBr) Team Sky
6 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Tinkoff Team
7 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team
8 Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana Pro Team
9 Michael Matthews (Aus) Orica-BikeExchange
10 Pierre Rolland (Fra) Cannondale-Drapac
11 Tony Gallopin (Fra) Lotto Soudal
12 Simon Gerrans (Aus) Orica-BikeExchange
13 Daniel Martin (Irl) Etixx - Quick-Step
14 Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Team LottoNl-Jumbo
15 Tejay Van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing Team
197 Sam Bennett (Irl) Bora-Argon18 27:43
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