Sam Bennett scuppered in RideLondon victory bid
Sam Bennett’s victory bid in RideLondon-Surrey Classic was undone by cramps yesterday.
The Irish sprinter was given a very strong lead-out by his Bora-hansgrohe team. However, he hit the front a little too early into the headwind.
And having been away from racing action for six weeks, his usual strong kick wasn’t there when he reached for it.
Instead Alexander Kristoff (Katusha-Alpecin) darted past him to win from Magnus Cort Nielsen (Orica-Scott) and Michael Matthews (Team Sunweb).
Bennett faded once his cramps set in. And he had to be content with 8th place after just over 5½ hours of racing.
The 186km WorldTour race split on the climbs with around 70km remaining, mainly due to the pressure of Team Sky.
However, the field would regroup and the last of the escapees was caught just before the finish.
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And though Sam Bennett’s team mate Rudi Selig delivered him to the front as the sprint started, the Irishman found himself wanting after such a long break from racing.
He had last been in action in the middle of last month at the Tour of Slovenia where he took two stage wins.
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Hitting the front yesterday a little too early into the headwind, combined with cramps, undid his efforts. Kristoff came off his wheel to win.
Bennett’s sports director André Schulze said almost the entire team was coming back to racing after a long break.
“The race was extremely fast from the gun, which made it for us even harder without the normal race rhythm,” he said.
“In the end, Rudi was still with Sam, he did another amazing lead-out, but Sam suffered from cramps after he launched his sprint.
“I think this a normal reaction in such a hard race after coming back from a longer training period without racing.
“We have to be realistic, and then the 8th place is still a good result for us today.”
Matt Brammeier (Aqua Blue Sport) was the only other Irish finisher in the race. He would come home in 84th place, some 13:10 down.
National road race and TT champion Ryan Mullen (Cannondale-Drapac) was a non-finisher.
Sun, July 30th: RideLondon-Surrey Classic
1 Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Katusha-Alpecin 4:45:41
2 Magnus Cort Neilson (Den) Orica-Scott
3 Michael Matthews (Aus) Team Sunweb
4 Sep Vanmarcke (Bel) Cannondale-Drapac
5 Wouter Wippert (Ned) Cannondale-Drapac
6 Jean-Pierre Drucker (Lux) BMC Racing Team
7 Zakkari Dempster (Aus) Israel Cycling Academy
8 Sam Bennett (Irl) Bora-Hansgrohe
9 Rudy Barbier (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
10 Oliver Naesen (Bel) AG2R La Mondiale
11 Elia Viviani (Ita) Team Sky
12 Jack Bauer (NZl) Quick-Step Floors
13 Ben Swift (GBr) UAE Team Emirates
14 Michel Kreder (Ned) Aqua Blue Sport
15 Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Wanty - Groupe Gobert
16 Edward Theuns (Bel) Trek-Segafredo
17 Jonas Rickaert (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen - Baloise
18 Jonas Koch (Ger) CCC Sprandi Polkowice
19 Francesco Gavazzi (Ita) Androni Giocattoli
20 Hugo Houle (Can) AG2R La Mondiale
84 Matthew Brammeier (Irl) Aqua Blue Sport 0:13:10
DNF Ryan Mullen (Irl) Cannondale-Drapac
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