Just in time for the Worlds, Sam Bennett is in form and has taken another big win, this time in France.
By Brian Canty
Any fears that Sam Bennett’s recent bout of bronchitis would affect his World Championships preparation were put aside in emphatic fashion today when he won Paris-Bourges in a reduced bunch sprint.
The Bora-Argon 18 rider blasted to victory in the French semi-classic for the second year in-a-row.
He beat Alexander Porsev (Team Katusha) and Rudy Barbier (Roubaix Lille Metropole) at the end of the 190-kilometre contest in Bourges.
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The win follows Bennett’s victory at the Giro Dello Toscana a fortnight ago where he edged Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data) and he will now go to Paris Tours on Sunday buoyed by his latest win.
Today’s contest was characterised by a five-man break that included Quentin Jauregui (AG2R La Mondiale), Elie Gesbert (Fortuneo-Vital Concept), Sander Helven (Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise), Ivan Centrone (Differdange - Losch) and Rasmus Byriel Iversen (Giant Tins).
The built a lead that hovered around three minutes before they were caught.
And though Jauregui stayed out on his own for a time he was reeled in inside 20 kilometres to go.
Cofidis kept the pace high for Nacer Bouhanni but he was nowhere to be found in the sprint and in the end it was Bennett who proved strongest.
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