Bennett shows real grit to podium in Norway as field splits to pieces

Three big names: Alexander Kristoff, Thor Hushovd and Sam Bennett taking 1-2-3 in the final stage of the Arctic Tour of Norway today, Sunday.

Sam Bennett may have crashed hard on stage 2 of the Arctic Tour of Norway and then lost more time yesterday, but the Irish emerging star has bounced back in great style to take a determined third place on the final stage today, Sunday.

The NetApp-Endura man was beaten in the punishing finale by Alexander Kristoff (Katusha), who took stage 2, and defending champion and former world champion Thor Hushovd (BMC Racing).

Bennett came home just behind the Norwegian 1-2 after a closing couple of kilometres that forced the fast men to show their street smarts when the testing run-in saw the lead-out trains melt away long before the finish.

The peloton resembled more of a select group and was down to just 30 riders in the closing kilometres of the 165km final stage 4 which started and ended in Tromsø.

The Kattfjordeidet was the first climb of the day and was crested after just 19.5km, with another 100 meter ascent to be negotiated on the finishing circuit.

And while that latter climb was short, it was also brutal and split the field to pieces; with only the very best men making their way into the lead group.

With a number of attempted breakaways swept up as the front of the race took the bell, the final ascent of finish circuit climb slimmed down the lead group even further.

Kristoff, who has taken Milan San Remo this year from a group sprint and two stages in the Tour de France from bunch sprints, showed his versatility in the closing stages.

When stage 1 winner and former race leader Lars Petter Nordhaug (Belkin) and Cannondale’s Oscar Gatto pulled clear, Kristoff did not look for others to close it down; getting after them himself and joining them up front as gaps opened everywhere in the group behind.

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While there was a general regrouping just before 2km to go, so testing was the run-in that only those riders, including Bennett, who managed to hold their places in the first half dozen on the road made any impact on the finish.

As the front of the group just about came together, Hushovd attacked with 2km remaining and built a very good lead; looking for a while like he would win one of his last races as a pro and definitely his last in his home country.

However, Kristoff reacted again and hunted him down; gradually closing in before sprinting past Hushovd in the last 50 metres to take a clear win.

Just behind them, when Kristoff had attacked after Hushovd, Bennett was the only one of the small leading group able to react.

And while he could not get on terms with the two leaders to contest the stage win, he pulled clear if the others and came across the line with daylight behind him for third place; clearly in great condition for the Tour of Britain despite his crash taking a wrecking ball to his pre-race stage win aspirations.

Arctic Tour of Norway, Stage 4