Sam Bennett kept his cool on today's stage 3 in Qatar, opting to keep what he could in the tank for the days ahead.
Sam Bennett has kept his powder dry on today’s stage 3 time trial at the Tour of Qatar, clearly riding the 10.9km test within himself.
The Bora-Argon 18 man lost three minutes yesterday when the crosswinds split the 194km stage 2 to pieces.
Finding himself well down the general classification, he had nothing to ride for today.
He came home in 130th place, some 2:14 down on stage winner and new race leader Niki Terpstra (Etixx-Quick-Step).
The Dutchman, who won Paris-Roubaix last year, beat his much older and more fancied rivals Fabian Cancellara (Trek Factory Racing) and Bradley Wiggins (Team Sky) into 2nd and 3rd places respectively; eight seconds and nine seconds adrift.
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Niki Terpstra on his way to a fantastic win in the stage 3 time trial at the Tour of Qatar.
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The victory was symbolic in that Terpstra represents a new breed of classics rider who has now beaten his rivals for the monuments this spring at their speciality event.
Wiggins, wearing his time trial rainbow bands for the first time in competition today, has said he will target Paris-Roubaix this year before departing for his WIGGINS Continental team with a track focus.
And Cancellara, who is also nearing the end of a fantastic career, will once again be one of the men to beat in the classics.
Meanwhile, Carrick man Bennett will be hoping the energy he saved today can be put to good use on the remaining three road stages to come in Qatar.
They should present sprinting opportunities for him to add to his 5th place on stage 1.
Feb 8th to 13th: Tour of Qatar (UCI 2.HC)
Stage 3: Lusail Circuit - Lusail Circuit 10.9km
1 Niki Terpstra (Ned) Etixx - Quick-Step 0:14:04
2 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Trek Factory Racing 0:00:08
3 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Team Sky 0:00:09
4 Maciej Bodnar (Pol) Tinkoff-Saxo
5 Ian Stannard (GBr) Team Sky 0:00:10
6 Matthias Brandle (Aut) IAM Cycling 0:00:18
7 Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (Bel) Etixx - Quick-Step 0:00:20
8 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) MTN - Qhubeka 0:00:21
9 Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing Team 0:00:24
10 Reto Hollenstein (Swi) IAM Cycling 0:00:25
11 Andriy Grivko (Ukr) Astana Pro Team 0:00:29
12 Christopher Juul Jensen (Den) Tinkoff-Saxo
13 Roger Kluge (Ger) IAM Cycling
14 Lars Boom (Ned) Astana Pro Team 0:00:30
15 Luke Rowe (GBr) Team Sky 0:00:31
130 Sam Bennett (Irl) Bora-Argon 18 0:02:14
General Classification
1 Niki Terpstra (Ned) Etixx - Quick-Step 7:53:42
2 Maciej Bodnar (Pol) Tinkoff-Saxo 0:00:11
3 Ian Stannard (GBr) Team Sky 0:00:12
4 Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing Team 0:00:19
5 Luke Rowe (GBr) Team Sky 0:00:33
6 Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Team Katusha 0:00:36
7 Tom Boonen (Bel) Etixx - Quick-Step 0:00:42
8 Heinrich Haussler (Aus) IAM Cycling 0:00:44
9 Andriy Grivko (Ukr) Astana Pro Team 0:00:46
10 Peter Sagan (Svk) Tinkoff-Saxo 0:00:48
11 Marcus Burghardt (Ger) BMC Racing Team 0:00:54
12 Nikolas Maes (Bel) Etixx - Quick-Step 0:00:59
13 Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Trek Factory Racing 0:01:00
14 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) BMC Racing Team 0:01:04
15 Ralf Matzka (Ger) Bora-Argon 18 0:01:07
55 Sam Bennett (Irl) Bora-Argon 18 0:05:24
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