No stopping Sam Bennett as he sprints to podium finish against iconic Berlin backdrop

Sam Bennett - to the right in blue - sprints to third place against an iconic backdrop in Berlin yesterday; his fourth podium finish for his new NetApp-Endura team this year.

Sam Bennett has apparently shrugged off the illness that interrupted his racing in recent weeks after a great start to the season including two wins, when he finished in 2nd place in the bunch sprint that settled the 175km Garmin Velothon Berlin in Germany yesterday.

Starting and finishing in the German capital and racing past some iconic landmarks including the Brandenburg Gate, the riders faced a 119.3km out and back route before returning into the city for six laps of a 9.3km finishing circuit.

After the early four-man escape had been swept up the scene was set for a bunch sprint, with Bennett’s team mates working hard to put him into a good position in the closing stages.

While he was beaten by Garmin-Sharp’s Raymond Kreder from Holland, it was a very good result by the 23-year-old Irish man and moves him into an incredible 2nd place in the UCI EuropeTour.

Bennett’s directeur sportif, Enrico Poitschke said the team was very happy with the outcome yesterday.

“The team implemented everything we planned to do heading into this race today and we were rewarded with an excellent finish,” he said.

“Of course it is frustrating when you don’t reach the top of the podium. We can still be satisfied, since second place is a great result when you didn’t make any mistakes.”

Bennett should get to use his finishing kick again pretty soon, and hopefully in a sprint for victory, when the team lines out in the Worlds Port Classic next weekend.

The two day race, ranked 2.1 by the UCI, runs between Rotterdam and Antwerp and is usually one where the fast men shine.

As with the Giro d'Italia in recent days and the opening stage of the An Post Rás at home yesterday, the riders raced in pretty miserable conditions in Berlin.