Cycling

Sam Bennett makes it back-to-back stage victories in Four Days of Dunkirk

Bennett held off late acceleration from Milan Fretin and is now eight seconds clear in general classification

Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale's Irish rider Sam Bennett celebrates. Photograph: Francois Lo Presti/AFP via Getty

Ian O'Riordan
Thu May 16 2024 - 20:27

Sam Bennett’s welcome return to form has continued with back-to-back stage victories in the Four Days of Dunkirk in France, the Carrick-on-Suir rider claiming the third stage after another bunch sprint into the finish in Bouchain.

After ending his long drought of bunch sprint wins with a victory on the second stage on Wednesday, Bennett has clearly regained some confidence too, delivering another win for his team Decathlon Ag2r La Mondiale and extending his overall race lead.

Bennett held off a late acceleration from Milan Fretin (Cofidis), winner of the first stage, and is now eight seconds clear of Fretin in the general classification.

“They were fantastic,” Bennett said of his team lead-out. “The thing about sprinting is it often doesn’t go to plan. We had a different plan today. The guys showed the maturity today and their experience.

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“They were able to make quick decisions when it wasn’t going right, and that’s what it’s all about. We continue that process where we get that flow, and hopefully, there’s more results to come.”

Bennett’s victory 24 hours earlier was his first win for his team Decathlon Ag2r La Mondiale, which he joined at the start of this season, the 33-year-old last winning two sprint stages of the Tour of Romania back in July of 2023.

The mostly flat 165km stage went from Saint-Laurent-Blangy to Bouchain, and this second stage win in Dunkirk brings his pro career tally to 64 in all.

Bennett has won 10 Grand Tour stages in the past, including two at the 2020 Tour de France, where he also on the green jersey for the points classification, after winning the final stage into Paris on the Champs-Élysées, this result further increasing his chances for selection for this year’s race.

Ian O'Riordan

Ian O'Riordan

Ian O'Riordan is an Irish Times sports journalist writing on athletics

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