IRELAND’S SAM BENNETT timed his charge to perfection to claim victory on stage three of the Vuelta a España into Alicante this afternoon, while Nico Roche has maintained his position as the overall race leader.

Bora-Hansgrohe rider Bennett emerged from the pack in a dominant sprint finish for his first Vuelta stage win, adding to the three stage victories he claimed on the BinckBank Tour earlier this month.

Many had circled Bennett as the favourite for a relatively flat third stage and the 28-year-old delivered, securing his 12th win of the season at his first Grand Tour of the year. 

He crossed the line ahead of Belgium’s Edward Theuns, who came second, and Slovenian Luka Mezgec in third.

“I can’t tell you how relieved I am with that,” Bennett said. “Thanks to the team, I could just relax and follow them. They got me into the right place and the right time to make my effort. If it wasn’t for the team effort today, I wouldn’t have got it.

“I’m delighted to get it. It means a lot to get another Grand Tour victory, especially in the Irish national champions jersey. I’m very proud to wear it.” 

Bennett pulled away from Theuns in the final 200 metres before Mezgec nipped in front of Jon Aberasturi (Caja Rural) and Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain-Merida) to take third.

Fabio Jakobsen (Deceuninck-QuickStep) and Fernando Gaviria (UAE Team Emirates) had been expected to challenge Bennett for the stage win but Jakobsen settled for seventh after struggling on the last climb. Gaviria lost touch with 11km to go.

Roche (Team Sunweb) retains the red jersey ahead of Nairo Quintana.

The fourth stage on Tuesday will include a 175.5km-route between Cullera and El Puig.

Its flat finish should again favour the sprinters before a more mountainous stage five on Wednesday.

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