Sam Bennett & Dan Martin best of Irish in Tour of Britain TT as Philip Deignan crashes out

Dan Martin rolls off the starters ramp in Knowsley today to get his 16km TT Tour of Britain stage 3 underway

By Gavin McLoughlin

It was another eventful day on stage 3 of the Tour of Britain today, Tuesday; marred by the abandonment of Unitedhealthcare rider Philip Deignan today.

Deignan crashed during the 16-kilometre individual time-trial and is out of the World Championships after suffering a fractured collarbone

Of the rest of the Irish contingent, yesterday’s runner-up Sam Bennett was again the best performer.

In a muscular effort that saw him catch and pass Will Stephenson (Rapha Condor JLT) and Christophe Laborie (Sojasun) during his time on the rain-soaked course, the Carrick-on-Suir rider went around in a time of 21:31.

That was the fastest time when Bennett crossed the finish line, but later he was knocked off top spot by 20-year-old Owain Doull (Great Britain) and would ultimately finish 22^nd on the stage at 1:37 behind winner Bradley Wiggins (Sky)

Dan Martin was next-best of the Irishmen, completing the flat but technical route in 21:36. He is the highest Irish rider on general classification, sitting in 17^th place overall at 1:38 behind Wiggins.

Sean Downey of An Post-Chainreaction, who is second in the mountains classification, came in with a time of 22:40, while Peter Hawkins (IG-Sigma Sport) was near the rear of the field with a time of 23:48.

Thus far it has been an ultra-eventful Tour from an Irish perspective, with Deignan the second Irishman to abandon after Dominic Jelfs (Madison Genesis) was unable to finish yesterday.

Martin and Bennett lit up stage 2 with a pair of aggressive displays, while the unfortunate Hawkins was forced to ride the last 60 kilometres of yesterday on his own after suffering a puncture have having been in the main escape on Sunday’s stage 1.

The defining feature of the race has been the appalling weather, which lends itself to spectacular viewing but is less welcome for the unfortunate riders.

The race resumes tomorrow with a lumpy 188-kilometre ride from Stoke-on-Trent to Llanberis.

@gavmcloughlin