Sam Bennett on the podium at the Tour of Qatar; having taken a great stage result and the young rider classification leader's jersey.
By Gerard Cromwell
Sam Bennett got his professional career off to a great start when he took the first white jersey as leader in the young rider competition on stage 1 of the Tour of Qatar today.
The NetApp Endura rider sprinted home in 14th place on the stage after a five strong breakaway group was led in by Niki Terpstra of Omega Pharma Quickstep.
Bennett survived well in the cross winds to make it home as part of a very depleted peloton. He then showed he still had the legs to mix it in the charge to the line, a very promising sign so early in the season and so soon after stepping up to Pro Continental level.
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“I was coming up to 5km or 10 km to go and I was saying to Zak Dempster that I was feeling really nervous, I don’t know why,” he said.
“Usually I’d be a little bit of a maniac in the sprint. I had to just put the nerves to one side and just go for it.
“There were a lot of crashes at the end, the team did a great job trying to help me and it was unfortunate we got stuck behind a couple of them. I’d like to thank them for really giving 110 per cebt for me. It’s great to get the young rider’s jersey."
Bennett is now sixth overall as he took a one second time bonus when he finished third behind Terpstra and Alexandre Kristoff of Katusha in the first intermediate sprint of the day at Mesaieed after 20km.
Although the peloton fractured in numerous pieces in the blustery conditions, it wasn’t until just before the second bonus sprint at Umm Bab, after 107.5km, when Niki Terpstra finally took off again.
The Dutchman took another five second bonus ahead of Jurgen Roelandts of Lotto Belisol and Michael Schar of BMC before the trio were then joined by Terpstra’s teammate Guillaume Van Kersbulck and Martin Elmiger of IAM Cycling.
With the quintet holding a slim advantage of just 32 seconds going into the last five kilometres, they just held on to cross the line seven seconds before the peloton, who were led home by Terpstra’s teammate Tom Boonen.
After time bonuses, Bennett is now sixth overall, 23 seconds behind Terpstra and just one second on fifth placed Kristoff.
The Carrick-On-Suir man also leads the U23 competition thanks to that single second bonus won out on the road today and will wear the white jersey on tomorrow’s 160km second stage to Al Khor Corniche.
Bennett gets the dust of the desert off him after a tough 135kms in the saddle in Qatar
Feb 9th to 14th: Tour of Qatar (UCI 2.HC)
Sun, Feb 9th: Stage 1 Al Wakra – Dukhan Beach 135.5km
1. Niki Terpstra, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, 3:13:42
2. Jurgen Roelandts, Lotto-Belisol, in : 00′ 01”
3. Michael SchÄr, BMC Racing, at 00:01
4. Martin Elmiger, IAM Cycling, at 00:01
5. Guillaume VanKeirsbulck, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 00:07
6. Tom Boonen, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 00:07
7. Barry Markus, Belkin Pro Cycling, at 00:07
8. Arnaud Demare, Fdj.fr, at 00:07
9. Michael VanStaeyen, Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise, at 00:07
10. Marcel Sieberg, Lotto-Belisol, at 00:07
11. Michael Morkov, Tinkoff-Saxo, at 00:07
12. Aidis Kruopis, Orica Greenedge, at 00:07
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13. Christopher Sutton, Sky, at 00:07
14. Sam Bennett, Team Netapp-Endura, at 00:07
15. Lieuwe Westra, Astana, at 00:07
16. Greg VanAvermaet, BMC Racing, at 00:07
17. Yoann Offredo, Fdj.fr, at 00:07
18. Rafâa Chtioui, Skydive DubaÏ, at 00:07
19. Alessandro Bazzana, Unitedhealthcare, at 00:07
20. Rüdiger Selig, Katusha, at 00:07
General Classification
1. Niki Terpstra, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, 3:13:26
2. Jurgen Roelandts, Lotto-Belisol, in : 00′ 09”
3. Michael SchÄr, BMC Racing, at 00:12
4. Martin Elmiger, IAM Cycling, at 00:17
5. Alexander Kristoff, Katusha, at 00:21
6. Sam Bennett, Team Netapp-Endura, at 00:22
7. Guillaume VanKeirsbulck, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 00:23
8. Tom Boonen, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 00:23
9. Barry Markus, Belkin Pro Cycling, at 00:23
10. Arnaud Demare, Fdj.fr, at 00:23
11. Michael VanStaeyen, Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise, at 00:23
12. Marcel Sieberg, Lotto-Belisol, at 00:23
13. Michael Morkov, Tinkoff-Saxo, at 00:23
14. Aidis Kruopis, Orica Greenedge, at 00:23
15. Christopher Sutton, Sky, at 00:23
16. Lieuwe Westra, Astana, at 00:23
17. Greg VanAvermaet, BMC Racing, at 00:23
18. Yoann Offredo, Fdj.fr, at 00:23
19. Rafâa Chtioui, Skydive DubaÏ, at 00:23
20. Alessandro Bazzana, Unitedhealthcare, at 00:23
Young Rider Classification
1. Sam Bennett, Team Netapp-Endura
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