IRISH ACE SAM Bennett won stage 1 of Paris-Nice on Sunday, timing a late surge to perfection in a mass bunch sprint.
It was a fourth stage win on this race for Bennett as he surged past 2019 world champion Mads Pedersen in second while Frenchman Arnaud Demare came third after his lead out man fell during the run-in.
“I got into the right position with 1km to go and just stayed calm and made my move 150m out,” said Bennett, who won two stages of the UAE Tour in February.
Bennett’s power left his rivals trailing and with two more sprints expected on the eight-day run to Nice, the 2020 Tour de France sprint jersey winner appears even stronger this season.
There was bad news for Ineos as Richie Porte fell with 30km to go and pulled out on stage 1 of his first race on his return to Dave Brailsford’s team.
Monday’s second stage is a 188km run from Oinville-sur-Montcient outside Paris towards Amilly as the 1,200km event known as ‘the Race to the Sun’ begins its long slog South.
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