Sam Bennett was just beaten for the stage 5 win today at UAE Tour. Though the Irish rider's new Bora-hansgrohe lead-out train delivered him to the front in the finale, Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin Fenix) was too strong.
Philipsen timing his effort to perfection, coming off Bennett's wheel to win. Olav Kooij, a new 20-year-old sprinter from the Netherlands and riding for Jumbo-Visma, also managed to get past Bennett on the line, meaning the Irish rider had to settle for 3rd place.
However, Bennett has said he is in UAE Tour to hone his new lead-out and on the basis of the evidence thus far, the Carrick-on-Suir man is already gelling well with the men who make up his train; Irish champion Ryan Mullen, Kiwi Shane Archbald and Dutchman Danny van Poppel.
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Mullen held the lead-out train near the front until the final 1km, at which point Bennett still had Archbald and Van Poppel ahead of him. When Van Poppel launched Bennett he was on the front opening the sprint. With a few more races in his legs Bennett will be able to turn that kind of positioning into some victories.
As today's 182km stage from Ras al Khaimah Corniche to Al Marjan Island ended in a bunch gallop there was no change in the overall. Yesterday's stage winner and defending champion Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) retains the race lead ahead of what should be another sprinters' stage tomorrow.
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The Slovenian was forced into a late chase to get back onto the bunch after a puncture but he managed to regain the main field with assistance from his team.
More to come.
