Having clocked up a 12th place finish in Sunday’s Gent Wevelgem Classic, Sam Bennett has been confirmed as part of the NetApp Endura line-up for three more important spring events.
On Sunday, the Carrick-on-Suir rider will compete in the Tour of Flanders Classic. He will then line out in the 1.HC-ranked Schledeprijs next Wednesday.
Rapid development
While Bennett is still in his first year in the pro ranks, he has underlined his rapid development with a number of big results, including victory in the Clasica de Almeria, third on stage six of the Tour of Oman and fourth on stage two of Tirreno-Adriatico.
He would have finished much higher than on Sunday had three of his team-mates not crashed in the closing kilometres, leaving him without a leadout for the sprint and hemmed in during the final gallop.
Bennett will also ride Paris-Roubaix the following Sunday. He and his team will be keen to see how he fares on the jarring stretches of pavé, where fellow Carrick man Seán Kelly was victorious in 1984 and 1986.
Confirmed
In other news, 2013 winner Marcin Bialoblocki has been confirmed for the An Post Rás, which starts in Dunboyne on May 18th. The Polish rider will lead the Velosure Giordana team and will likely be joined by 2012 Tour of the North winner James Moss and Steve Lampier.
Also returning is Peter Hawkins, who took the race lead on stage two but then crashed out the following day with a broken collarbone.
He and fellow Ireland cyclist Dominic Jelfs will line out with Madison Genesis, alongside Britons Liam Holohan and Tom Stewart.
A third British team has also been confirmed, with Josh Hunt and James Lowsley Williams pencilled in for the NFTO team.
