Ireland's Sam Bennett bags another top 10 in Qatar as team builds lead-out train for him

Sam Bennett (far left, white jersey) has won the confidence of his NetApp-Endura team this week, with the blue-clad lead-out train being put into action for him at the Tour of Qatar.

By Gerard Cromwell

Sam Bennett continues to impress in the colours of new team NetApp Endura at the Tour of Qatar, with the Carrick-On-Suir sprinter taking 7th place on today’s 159km penultimate stage in Madinat Al Shimal.

Having had Austrian teammate Daniel Schorn involved in a day long four man breakaway, which was only reeled in with 8km to go, Bennett’s NetApp Endura squad first hit the front en masse with 5km to go, the whole squad driving at the head of the peloton with Bennett securely tucked in at the back of the sprint train.

It was an indication that team management are sufficiently impressed by Bennett’s form and his approach that they would put the entire line-up into action in support of him as protected rider; a development that may prove very significant for him in the season ahead.

Although they were soon overtaken by the Cannondale and then the Orica GreenEdge squads the NetApp boys fought their way back to the front with 2km to go to set Bennett up for another go at the final gallop to the line.

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Led out by Lotto Belisol teammate and third overall Jurgen Roelandts, German sprinter Andre Greipel jumped forward in the final 150m for  a convincing win ahead of Orica GreenEdge’s Lithuanian fast man Aidis Kruopis and Theo Bos of Belkin.

Despite being swamped in the final 200m, Bennett once again showed he can handle himself in the big bunch gallops with seventh place, behind Daniele Bennati (Tinkoff Saxo), IAM’s Matteo Pelucchi and Roelandts and just ahead of former world champion and yesterday's stage winner Tom Boonen.

NIki Terpstra holds onto his race lead, with the same 17 seconds advantage over Omega Pharma Quickstep teammate Tom Boonen as the riders head into tomorrow’s final stage.

Today's result follows Bennett's taking of the white jersey for leader in the young rider classification after stage 1, and his 5th place in the bunch sprint that settled yesterday's stage.

Feb 9th to 14th: Tour of Qatar (UCI 2.HC)

Feb 13th, Stage 5: Al Zubara Fort to Madinat ash-Shamal (159km)