Irish star Bennett wins Vuelta in sprint

Australian Grand Tour rookie Caden Groves left frustrated with his maiden crack in a stage win at the Vuelta a Espana as Ireland’s Sam Bennett rediscovered his most ardent sprint form in Utrecht.

Bennett saw sprint prospect Groves out of place at the end of the Pancake Flat 175.1km route from ‘s-Hertogenbosch in the final race for the second stage on Saturday. I figured it out and won.

The 23-year-old Groves took part in Australian team BikeExchange-Jayco’s inaugural Grand Tour after several sprint victories already this year, eventually finishing 10th.

After a difficult few years since his last Grand Tour win, also in the Vuelta, the 31-year-old Bennett held out comfortably after being given a perfect leadout by BORA Hansgrohe team-mate Danny van Poppel. I was. Mats Pedersen and Tim Mellie.

It was the Irishman’s ninth win on the Grand Tour, continuing his record of winning at least one stage in each of his last five.

“Danny set me up. It was the players’ fault today… I was more concerned about hanging on than passing people. That’s good. I thought I’d do it again,” Bennett said. rice field.

“Now it’s just a matter of getting the legs right. What I’m really happy about is continuing the pattern of winning every Grand Tour since 2018.”

After Friday’s opening team time trial, the Dutch stalwart of Jumbo-Visma was awarded the leader’s red jersey, while his compatriot and teammate Mike Teunissen finished fourth on Sunday after finishing fourth in the second stage. get honor