Sam Bennett is looking lean and fit in the Tour of Qatar this week. The Bora-Argon 18 man is currently eighth on General Classification after a monster ride on today's 11-kilometre time-trial.
Sam Bennett showed no ill-effects of his high-speed crash on yesterday’s second stage of the Tour of Qatar by producing a brilliant time-trial today, which has vaulted him up to eighth overall.
The Irishman was in superb form around the 11-kilometre course, finishing 22nd in a time of 14:30.
He was 1’04” behind stage winner and new race leader Edvald Boasson Hagen (Dimension Data) who clocked a blistering time of 13:26 for the pan-flat course.
The Norwegian usurped his teammate Mark Cavendish at the head of the overall standings and the latter now trails by 26 seconds ahead of tomorrow’s penultimate stage.
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Manuel Quinziato (BMC Racing Team) was third on the stage and he now moves up to the same position on general classification, six seconds behind Cavendish.
Tomorrow’s stage is the longest of the 2.HC-ranked event and takes the riders 189 kilometres from Al Zubarah Fort to Madinat Al Shamal.
There are two intermediate sprint points in the latter half of the race - with time bonuses on offer.
Bennett will most likely forego the opportunity to challenge for those, though by the way he and his team are riding, he could figure in what is expected to be a bunch sprint.
The big loser today was Alexander Kristoff (Katusha), who began in second overall after his victory yesterday.
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He now sits 45 seconds behind fellow countryman Boasson Hagen after losing nearly a minute this afternoon.
Matt Brammeier (Dimension Data) crossed the line 2:07 down but he’ll not be too concerned by that as he’ll be called upon for domestique duties once again tomorrow.
The four-time Irish national champion has done a sterling job so far this week, keeping Cavendish and Boassen Hagen out of as much trouble as possible.
With strong crosswinds expected he’ll need no reminding of what his role entails.
Stage 3: Lusail-Lusail (11km TT)
1 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Dimension Data, 13:26
2 Jos Van Emden (Ned) LottoNL-Jumbo @25s
3 Manuel Quinziato (Ita) BMC, @29s
4 Greg Van Avermaet (Bel), @32s
5 Dmitriy Gruzdev (Kaz), Astana @40s
6 Lieuwe Westra (Ned) Astana, @43s
7 Mark Cavendish (Gbr) Dimension Data, @44s
8 Jordan Kerby (Aus), Drapac, @s/t
9 Soren Kragh Andersen (Den) Giant-Alpecin, @45s
10 Daniel Oss (Ita) BMC, @47s
22 Sam Bennett (Irl) Bora-Argon, @1:04
115 Matt Brammeier (Irl) Dimension Data, @2:07
General Classification
1 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Dimension Data, 6:53:35
2 Mark Cavendish (GBr) Dimension Data, @26s
3 Manuel Quinziato (Ita) BMC, @32s
4 Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC, @34s
5 Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Katusha, @45s
6 Soren Kragh Andersen (Den) Giant-Alpecin, @48s
7 Sven Erik Bystrom (Nor) Katusha, @1:02
8 Sam Bennett (Irl) Bora-Argon, @1:07
9 Viacheslav Kuznetsov (Rus) Katusha, @1:10
10 Michael Schar (Swi) BMC, @1:15
45 Matt Brammeier (Irl) Dimension Data, @2:07
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