Bennett just pipped by Milan in furious Tirreno final sprint | Video | Sticky Bottle

*Sam Bennett is looking like the world class kick he has made his career on has returned of late, coming very close indeed to a big win today* *(Photo by Massimo Paolone-LaPresse)*

Sam Bennett (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) may have had to endure a horrible week, in bad weather, at Tirreno Adriatico but the sun came out today for the final stage and so too did the sprint the Irishman has made his name with.

Bennett will be disappointed at being pipped for victory into San Benedetto del Tronto by Jonathan Milan (Lidl Trek). But the kick the Irishman produced in taking 2nd place looked, again this season, like the Bennett of old. He relegated Olav Kooij (Visma | Lease a Bike) to 3rd.

Many times in recent seasons Bennett has not been able to muster a truly competitive sprint, but already this year he has two wins - from Tour de la Provence - and pushed Milan to the pin of his collar today.

Bennett will perhaps rue not pulling the trigger slightly earlier today because, when he kicked, he was definitely traveling the fastest of those sprinting at the front of the field. However, though he gained on Milan, with a really strong gallop, the big Italian just had the staying power to hold him off.

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In the end, there was about a wheel in it, but Bennett looks like a different rider this season. And though he has concluded this race without a hoped-for win, the world class sprint looks like it's back again; and in was in his legs today after a long and hard World Tour stage race.

More to come.