Elia Viviani and his Deceuninck-QuickStep team combined well to deny Sam Bennett victory at Prudential RideLondon-Surrey Classic (1.UWT) today.
The 169km race swept back into the centre of London for the big sprint finale after attacking over the last two laps of the Box Hill circuit failed to cause decisive splits.
And while there was a bad crash in the closing kilometres the two fancied riders, Viviani and Bennett, avoided it.
However, a number of Bora-hansgrohe riders fell, denying Bennett a lead-out in the final 1.5km.
Treble Tour de France stage winner Caleb Ewan (Lotto-Soudal) was perhaps the pre-race favourite but was spat out the back of the bunch on Box Hill on the third last ascent.
Bennett's Bora-hansgrohe team looked comfortable through most of the race and the Irish sprinter appeared to cope with the climb exceptionally well.
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He was visible at the front of the bunch on the hardest part of the circuits many times as an early breakaway was gradually reeled back in.
Conor Dunne (Israel Cycling Academy) also rode well on the climb, only being tailed off on the run in before finishing in 107th at 2:12.
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In the finale, Viviani got a perfect lead-out, aided by one of the Jumbo Visma riders opening up the sprint along the right side of the road a few hundred metres out.
Michael Mørkøv (Deceuninck-QuickStep) jumped onto the Jumbo-Visma rider's wheel, with Viviani right behind him.
Bennett saw the trio dart forward and immediately moved to his right, bullying his way onto Viviani's wheel expertly.
Mørkøv then pulled the trigger, with Viviani coming off his wheel at the perfect moment.
Bennett was to the Italian's right but the eventual winner made sure to hold his place on the road ensuring there was not enough space for Sam Bennett to pass him on the inside.
And by the time Bennett moved to his left and went around Viviani the long way, the finish line had arrived and the Italian had clinched it by about half a length from his Irish rival.
Viviani wins from Bennett in London
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