Better from Bennett as Irishman makes podium with late kick | Video

Sam Bennett came from a long way back and but for following what proved to be the wrong wheels, this may have been much better as he showed the movement in the sprint and klick of old

Sam Bennett (Bora-hansgrohe) may have had a more muted season in 2023 compared to his best years, but he showed something of his peak sprinting powers on the opening stage of the Gree-Tour of Guangxi (2.UWT) in China today.

Even though the Irishman didn't come away with the victory - having to settle for 3rd place - he may have won but for the chaos of the final gallop, and ultimately picking the wrong wheels to follow as Elia Viviani (Ineos Grenadiers) got an armchair ride to the line.

Bennett showed flashes of the powers that have taken him to over 60 victories in his career; moving around with skill to stay in the game when the fancied riders whose wheels he followed just didn't have the legs today. And though he left himself with a lot to do, only getting into clear road right before the line, he produced a very strong last gasp kick ensuring he at least made the podium.

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Viviani, who also won a stage of CRO Race last week, had a dream lead-out as he followed Jonathan Milan (Bahrain-Victorious), who kicked early in a bid to take the win with his pursuiter-sprinter technique. When Milan faded a little, Viviani came from behind him to pull the trigger for victory into Beihai after 135.6km of racing.

On the other side of the road, Bennett had been brought to the front by team mate Ryan Mullen, though the Carrick-on-Suir man lost Mullen's wheel in what was a messy sprint on a wide highway. Instead, Bennett opted to follow form riders Arnaud De Lie (Lotto-Dstny) and Olav Kooij (Jumbo Visma).

However, when the two young dominant sprinters failed to fire, Bennett came off their wheels, moving to his left to find space and then kicked for the line; taking 3rd behind Viviani and Milan. While it wasn't a result to write home about for Bennett, he looked fresh at the finish, which has been rare for him this year.

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And if he can repeat that fluid movement in the bunch and the quality of his final kick today in the coming stages, he may leave China with a stage win, despite the quality of sprinters in this field.

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