Sam Bennett has nudged his way into the top group of pro riders competing for major honours on the international stage (Photo: Joe Roop)
By Brian Canty
Sam Bennett has ended the Tour of Qatar seventh overall, a position on the general classification he’d certainly have taken at the outset of the 2.HC-ranked race.
Though he’ll be disappointed at not emulating last year’s stage win on the final day, he can have no complaints about how he or his team rode all week.
And the fact he made all of the key moves as the breeze shredded a world class field to pieces shows how much he has grown as a rider.
His selection into a small and exclusive group of pre race favourites presented to the media on the eve of the event also suggests his name is known around the world now and he is becoming a commercial draw.
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On three of the four road stages the Irishman was right in the thick of things at the finish and took two fourths and a sixth, with his chances of the win on day two ruined by a crash with 400 metres to go.
On Wednesday’s 11-kilometre time trial the Bora Argon 18 man was a superb 22nd, a result that pushed him up to eighth overall.
When ASO, the Tour de France owners who also own the Tour of Qatar, put together a group of favourites for the media launch on the eve of the race, Bennett (far right) was selected to be among them. It was another indication he is very much on the rise (Photo: Joe Roop)
Twelve months ago, Bennett finished 79th overall over 13 minutes down.
So to finish just 47 seconds down on winner Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data) must give him huge confidence ahead of next week’s Tour of Oman as well as the big classics he’ll ride in March and April.
Last year he was on the wrong side of crucial splits on several of days in Qatar, which contributed to his more modest overall position.
But making the moves this year really underlines how much stronger he has become and how well he and his team mates are working as a unit.
This week Bora Argon 18 have been exceptional and on Monday’s opening stage they were only bettered by Katusha in terms of having men in the front group of 15 riders that contested the sprint.
That stage effectively cut down the list of potential winners to around half a dozen, with Bennett in there in some world class company.
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Yesterday, Bennett suffered a double puncture at a crucial stage of the race and dropped out of the second group who were flat out chasing the remainder of the break.
It didn't look good for him when he fell over a minute behind but with the help of his team, he was paced back up and would later contest the sprint.
It was a pretty incredible performance by all concerned given the strength of the wind.
Bennett seems to have proven very popular with the international media and takes the attention in his stride (Photo: Joe Roop)
In total, the stages were shared between three riders who should challenge for a number of big ones this year; three for the indomitable Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) and one each for Mark Cavendish and his teammate Edvald Boasson Hagen.
Today’s final gallop was won by Kristoff who really looks in mean condition as he chases back-to-back Milan San Remo crowns next month.
The result was not enough to usurp Cavendish as the race leader and the Manx man was a nose behind the winner in second, with Roy Jans (Wanty Groupe Gobert) taking third.
Bennett finished sixth after another terrific job by his team to negotiate his path to the front in the final.
The other Irishman in the race was Matt Brammeier and it’s been a memorable week for him too as he adjusts to life back in the WorldTour.
He finished a fine 44th overall around six minutes down after crossing the line some 48 seconds back today.
His role all week has been patrolling the bunch at various stages as his team held the race lead for the entire five days, with Cavendish losing it to Boasson Hagen on stage three but regaining it yesterday.
Stage 5: Sealine Beach - Doha Corniche (114km)
1 Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Team Katusha 2:56:16
2 Mark Cavendish (GBr) Dimension Data
3 Roy Jans (Bel) Wanty - Groupe Gobert
4 Yauheni Hutarovich (Blr) Fortuneo - Vital Concept
5 Sacha Modolo (Ita) Lampre - Merida
6 Sam Bennett (Irl) Bora-Argon 18
7 Moreno Hofland (Ned) Team LottoNl-Jumbo
8 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Dimension Data
9 André Looij (Ned) Roompot - Oranje Peloton
10 Marco Canola (Ita) UnitedHealthcare all same
Final General Classification
1 Mark Cavendish (GBr) Dimension Data 13:47:23
2 Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Team Katusha 0:00:05
3 Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing Team 0:00:08
4 Manuel Quinziato (Ita) BMC Racing Team 0:00:12
5 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Dimension Data 0:00:25
6 Søren Kragh Andersen (Den) Team Giant-Alpecin 0:00:36
7 Sam Bennett (Irl) Bora-Argon 18 0:00:47
8 Sven Erik Bystrøm (Nor) Team Katusha 0:00:55
9 Viacheslav Kuznetsov (Rus) Team Katusha 0:00:56
10 Michael Schär (Swi) BMC Racing Team 0:01:04
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