Sam Bennett is going very well in Qatar and has jumped even higher on the general classification.
Sam Bennett’s hunt for a podium finish at the Tour of Qatar continues, with the Carrick-on-Suir man again coming home in 4th place on Thursday’s stage 4.
However, the Irish sprinter riding for Bora-Argon 18 has nudged a little higher on the general standings due to the misfortune of one of his rival’s.
Edvald Boasson Hagen (Dimension Data) held the race lead going into the stage – which took the riders 189km from Al Zubarah Fort to Madinat Al Shamal – but punctured with around 10km remaining and lost time.
I meant he slipped out of the top 10 overall and Bennett jumped from 8th this morning to 7th place going into Friday’s final stage.
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It’s an excellent result for him especially considering Wednesday’s stage 3 was a time trial.
However, despite the race against the clock not being Bennett’s favour discipline he managed 22nd on the day; enough to lodge him firmly into the top 10 overall.
Alexander Kristoff of Katusha won Thursday’s stage in a sprint finish after a fantastic lead out from his team.
Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) was 2nd and Kristoff’s team mate Jacopo Guarnieri rounding out the podium.
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Then came Bennett and just behind him in 5th was Mark Cavendish of Dimension Data, who takes the race lead from his team mate Boasson Hagen.
Matt Brammeier is on the same squad as Cavendish and is the only other Irishman in the race. We had no confirmation of his finishing position but will bring it to you as soon as we can.
As well as taking 4th on Thursday, Bennett was 4th on Monday’s opening stage and was one among a group of fallers in the sprint that decided stage 2, but has bounced back and is clearly in great condition.
Stage 4: Al Zubarah Fort to Madinat Al Shamal (189km)
Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Katusha 3:57:12
2 Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC
3 Jacopo Guarnieri (Ita) Katusha
4 Sam Bennett (Ire) Bora Argon 18
5 Mark Cavendish (GBr) Dimension Data
6 Manuel Quinziato (Ita) BMC
7 Viacheslav Kuznetsov (Rus) Katusha 0:00:06
8 Soren Kragh Andersen (Den) Giant-Alpecin 0:00:08
9 Moreno Hofland (Ned) LottoNL-Jumbo 0:00:09
10 Michael Morkov (Den) Katusha
General Classification
1 Mark Cavendish (GBr) Dimension Data 10:51:13
2 Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC 0:00:02
3 Manuel Quinziato (Ita) BMC 0:00:06
4 Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Katusha 0:00:09
5 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Dimension Data 0:00:19
6 Soren Kragh Andersen (Den) Giant-Alpecin 0:00:30
7 Sam Bennett (Ire) Bora Argon 18 0:00:41
8 Sven Erik Bystrom (Nor) Katusha 0:00:49
9 Viacheslav Kuznetsov (Rus) Katusha 0:00:50
10 Michael Schar (Swi) BMC 0:00:58
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