Sam Bennett pipped by André Greipel in season-opener in Spain

Sam Bennett has gotten his season off to a fine start today by finishing runner-up to Andre Greipel (Lotto Soudal) in the opening race of the Challenge Majorca series.

By Brian Canty

Sam Bennett has gotten his season off to a flying start after finishing a close second to Andre Greipel (Lotto Soudal) in Thursday’s season-opening race at the Challenge Majorca.

The Irishman benefitted from a textbook lead-out from his Bora Argon 18 team mates, though couldn’t match the finishing speed of the big German.

However, the Irish fastman managed to get the better of Edvald Boasson Hagen (Dimension-Data) who rounded out the podium.

The 176-kilometre race was marked by a three-man break that held a maximum advantage of around five minutes over the peloton.

But they were reeled in by the sprinters' teams as the kilometres ticked down.

Two riders, Tom-Jelte Slagter (Garmin-Cannondale) and Zdenek Stybar (Etixx-Quick Step), made a brave bid for glory by attacking on the final climb of the day.

But they too were hauled back by the peloton, led by the sprinters’ teams.