Sam Bennett has won the second stage of the Tour of Turkey; with the race leader's jersey on his back and sprinting up a climb.
The end of the 183.3km stage from Tekirdağ to Eceabat was very undulating, with changes of gradient and a climb to the finish line the order of the day.
However, the Carrick-on-Suir man's Bora-hansgrohe squad led into the base of the climb and Sam Bennett then finished the job in some style.
And to top the great job his team mates did, Felix Großschartner took 2nd on the stage just behind the Irish winner for a Bora-hansgrohe 1-2.
Gaps also opened up back through the field which means Bennett's overall lead has now been extended.
Bennett had also won the opening stage yesterday. Today's win was his ninth stage victory at the Tour of Turkey in the past three years.
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And it was his sixth win of the 2019 season, which is only a couple of months old; Bennett in rampant form of late.More to come.
After riding so well last week in the Tour of the Basque
Country, when it won four of the six stages, Bora-hansgrohe were brilliant
again today.
Not only did their riders take the stage with Bennett – who
also leads the points classification – but it fired Lukas Pöstlberger up the
road for a late effort.
The Austrian pulled out a very good gap on his own and it
looked for a time like he may just survive to win.
However, the hard effort off the front combined with the
climb to the line saw him tie up.
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Bennett was lurking in the clutch of riders that had formed
a select group just behind the line leader.
And when it was clear Pöstlberger was going to be swallowed
up, Sam Bennett stepped up; surging from the group and demolishing the sprint.
He pulled out several lengths the moment he kicked. And even
though he paused to look around before savoring his win, he still won it by a
considerable margin.
For his part; Pöstlberger was swamped by the group before
the line and took 15th place. Just seven riders were credited with
the same time as the Irish stage winner.
Sam Bennett now leads overall by 14 seconds from Großschartner.
In third place comes Jhonatan Restrepo Valencia (Manzana Postobon); the
24-year-old Colombian also 3rd on the stage today.
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