Sam Bennett has just missed out on a stage win at Critérium du Dauphiné, where he was beaten by race leader Christophe Laporte (Jumbo Visma) in the bunch sprint that settled the honours after 194.1km of racing from Monistrol-sur-Loire to Le Coteau.
The finish was marred by two nasty crashes inside the final 2km, though Bennett was close to the front being expertly guided by his Bora-hansgrohe team mate and compatriot, Ryan Mullen, as well as Danny van Poppel.
Between them, Mullen and Van Poppel made sure to dominate the front of the bunch in the last 1km, moving Bennett into position so he had the best possible chance of taking the win in what was probably the only certain chance for sprinters on this year's race.
Dylan Groenewegen (Team Jayco AlUla) was right behind Bennett in the final kilometre, hoping to come off his wheel after the Irishman had been brilliantly led out by his two team mates; Mullen in particular doing a huge turn until he was into the final 500m.
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When Bennett pulled the trigger with about 150m to go, Groenewegen tried to overtake the Irishman to Bennett's right. However, as Groenewegen was trying to overtake, Bennett moved right, towards the barriers. That closed the door on Groenewegen, much too the Dutch's rider annoyance.
As Bennett was involved in that tussle on the right side of the road, Laporte came up straight through the middle and had the legs to edge out the Irishman. It was Laporte's second stage win of the race after he claimed the opening stage - in a sprint from a reduced bunch - on Sunday.
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Today Bennett missed out by a matter of inches and though he seems to be finding his legs on this race, he really could have done with a win today. Groenewegen was 3rd today, crossing the line waving his arm in protest at the manner Bennett had closed the door on him by moving across the road towards the barriers while on the front in the sprint.
The overhead shot also showed Groenewegen shouldering Matevž Govekar (Bahrain-Victorious) as he tried to make room for himself once Bennett had closed the door on him. And while Groenewegen made a second effort to overtake the Irishman - the second time to Bennett's left - he had to be content with 3rd today, somewhat squeezed between winner Laporte and runner-up Bennett.
More to come.
