Irish rider Sam Bennett has sprinted in for another podium placing at the Giro d'Italia. But he will need to wait for that elusive stage win at a Grand Tour.

Sam Bennett 3rd on Giro d'Italia 2018 stage 3

Sam Bennett has taken another podium result at the Giro d’Italia, finishing 3rd on stage 3 today after a robust sprint.

It was a repeat of the placing he achieved yesterday into Tel Aviv. Unlike yesterday, Bennett got a much clearer run at the line.

He opened up the sprint after QuickStep had dominated the final kilometres to set up the winner of 24 hours ago Elia Viviani.

However, when Bennett hit out at the very front of the bunch, Viviani came from behind him.

Bennett sought to use the width of the road to make it harder for Viviani to get around; a common tactic in sprint finishes.

But Viviani put his left elbow out to ensure Bennett didn’t encroach into him. And once he did that Bennett moved to his left a little.

That opened up more space for Viviani and he galloped in for his second win in two days.

And from behind them both Sacha Modolo (EF Education First-Drapac) sprinted in between them to take 2nd, with Bennett a close 3rd.

Taken to the barriers: ✔
Wins anyway: ✔

Elia Viviani is unstoppable right now at #Giro101!#EurosportCycling pic.twitter.com/dh899D44Ym

— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) May 6, 2018

The stage, some 229km from Be'er Sheva to Eilat came down to a bunch sprint after the early breakaway group had been swept up.

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And while Bennett’s Bora-hansgrohe team was present in the finale to assist Sam Bennett, the QuickStep train looked more cohesive.

Once again, Viviani came off Bennett’s wheel. But this time Bennett opened his sprint first, unlike yesterday when Viviani was sprinting as he passed Bennett, who was then forced to react.

The breakaway was caught with just 5km remaining, having been clear for 224km.

Enrico Barbin (Bardiani-CSF),Marco FRapporti (Androni Giocattoli) and Guillaume Boivin (Israel Cycling Academy) were the men who took flight from the start line.

Rohan Dennis (BMC Racing), above, retained his race lead. His squad, which includes Nicolas Roche, was present on the front for much of the day.

However, it was a trouble-free day for him. The breakaway took a lead of seven minutes in the opening 15km. But BMC then hit the front and immediately a couple of minutes came off the lead.

And from that point the escape never really looked like it would make it all the way.

Of the other Irish riders in the race; Roche placed 82nd today, safely in the bunch on the same time as the winner.

Ryan Mullen, who could be seen on the front briefly with his Trek-Segafredo team, came home in 78th place in the peloton; one of 92 men in that bunch.

Tomorrow is a rest day; during which the riders travel from Israel to Sicily when the racing resumes again on Tuesday.

More to follow.