Sam Bennett nets strong top 10 result in Holland against some of fastest men in pro game

Sam Bennett has taken his best result of the season today, Friday, in a Dutch UCI ranked 1.1 race, sprinting well against some big names (Photo: www.blackumbrellaphotography.com)

By Brian Canty

Ireland’s Sam Bennett has taken a brilliant result at the UCI 1.1 ranked Dutch Food Valley Classic this afternoon, bagging seventh place behind some of the best sprinters in the game.

The Carrick-on-Suir man told stickybottle he rued getting boxed in in the finale, thus not positioning himself correctly; but he still managed to bag a top 10 in one of the hardest races he has done so far this season.

The race was won by Italian Elia Viviani (Liquigas-Cannondale) who beat off the challenge of fellow countryman Danilo Napolitano (Accent Jobs-Wanty) with home favourite Kenny van Hummel (Vacansoleil-DCM) rounding out the podium.

Bennett’s teammate Mark McNally had been one of the day’s key protagonists and the Liverpudlian made his way into the day’s break that began with four riders before swelling to 14.

Their lead almost tipped three minutes at one point before the peloton began to reel them in as the race approached the three 10-kilometre finishing circuits.

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McNally wasn’t reading the script, however, and managed to escape with another rider. The duo were clear as they took the bell with 10 kilometres to go. But it wasn’t to be for McNally who was swallowed up after an heroic effort.

That paved the way for the sprint. And for Bennett to be there at the sharp end of it in such esteemed company, at the end of 192 gruelling kilometres, augers very well for him as he fine tunes his preparations for next month’s Tour of Britain.

Clearly, it is an important time of year for the 22-year-old as he goes about trying to move up a level in the sport. And if he continues this kind of form and bags some more good results he may yet make the move up to Pro Continental next season.

Dutch Food Valley Classic: Veenendaal, Holland, 192.3km