Sam Bennett wins the bunch sprint at the Giro Della Toscana ahead of Mark Cavendish and Fabio Sabatini (Photo: Sirotti)
Almost three months since hit the deck hard on the opening road stage of the Tour de France, battering his body and his self confidence, Sam Bennett has won a bunch sprint again.
The Irish fastman was not sprinting for victory and had to settle for 5th place on the opening stage of the Giro Della Toscana after four escapees just about held off the bunch to share the spoils.
But having taken a long time to recover from pretty horrific injuries - including a broken finger only diagnosed halfway through the Tour - Bennett was firmly back in the game and will taken plenty of confidence from that.
He saw off the likes of Fabio Sabatini of the Italian national team and Mark Cavendish of Dimension Data to win the gallop but putting a second into the rest of the field.
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The stage was won by Giovanni Visconti (Movistar) from Sonny Colbrelli (Bardiani CSF) and Daniele Bennati (Italy); that leading trio finishing on the same time.
Giovanni Visconti wins the opening stage of two into Montecatini Terme after a late attack from a four-man breakaway that just about held off the bunch brought home by Ireland's Sam Bennett (Photo: Sirotti)
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Fabio Aru (Astana) was just three seconds back, with Bennett bringing home the fast-finishing peloton another three seconds later.
After Astana had worked to catch the early breakaway it was Aru who went on the attack and who worked hard with Visconti on the final ascent of Vico.
But with Bennati and Colbrelli have been with them before being dropped on the hill, they got back to the two leaders on the descent, with that quartet just about surviving to the finish.
Visconti stole a march on the breakaway when he put in a surprise attack with 2km remaining and just about held off the others as Aru lost time only on the finishing straight.
Bennett's 5th place is obviously far from one of the best of his career, but after enduring a very tough season and an awful crash at the Tour, it is a real indication he is back in good condition, and just in time for the Worlds next month.
Sept 20th & 21st: Giro della Toscana
Stage 1: Arezzo to Montecatini Terme (174.7 km)
1 Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Movistar Team 4:16:20
2 Sonny Colbrelli (Ita) Bardiani CSF
3 Daniele Bennati (Ita) Italy
4 Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana Pro Team 0:00:03
5 Sam Bennett (Irl) Bora-Argon 18 0:00:06
6 Fabio Sabatini (Ita) Italy 0:00:07
7 Mark Cavendish (GBr) Dimension Data
8 Pierre-Luc Perichon (Fra) Fortuneo - VItalyl Concept
9 Nicola Boem (Ita) Bardiani CSF
10 Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Wilier Triestina-Southeast
11 Tim Declercq (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
12 Alexander Kolobnev (Rus) Gazprom-Rusvelo
13 Colin Stüssi (Swi) Team Roth
14 David Lozano Riba (Spa) Team Novo Nordisk
15 Simone Ponzi (Ita) CCC Sprandi Polkowice
General Classification
1 Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Movistar Team 4:16:20
2 Sonny Colbrelli (Ita) Bardiani CSF
3 Daniele Bennati (Ita) Italy
4 Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana Pro Team 0:00:03
5 Sam Bennett (Irl) Bora-Argon 18 0:00:06
6 Fabio Sabatini (Ita) Italy 0:00:07
7 Mark Cavendish (GBr) Dimension Data
8 Pierre-Luc Perichon (Fra) Fortuneo - VItalyl Concept
9 Nicola Boem (Ita) Bardiani CSF
10 Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Wilier Triestina-Southeast
11 Tim Declercq (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
12 Alexander Kolobnev (Rus) Gazprom-Rusvelo
13 Colin Stüssi (Swi) Team Roth
14 David Lozano Riba (Spa) Team Novo Nordisk
15 Simone Ponzi (Ita) CCC Sprandi Polkowice
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