Cycling news - Sam Bennett burns off rivals to claim stage three victory

ByEurosport

Updated 12/03/2019 at 20:00 GMT

Ireland's Sam Bennett produced a powerhouse finish to claim victory on stage three of Paris-Nice.

Sam Bennett (R) celebrates as he crosses the finish line ahead of Australia's Caleb Ewan (2L) and Netherlands' Fabio Jakobsen (L) at the end of the 200km 3rd stage of the 77th Paris-Nice cycling race stage between Cepoy and Moulins/Yzeure.

Image credit: Eurosport

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The Bora-Hansgrohe rider held off Caleb Ewan (Lotto-Soudal) with the Australian forced to accept second place despite a game effort to hunt down Bennett in the 200km flat stage.

With race leader Dylan Groenewegen unable to maintain pace in the closing metres, Australian Ewan did manage to get on the back wheel off Bennett, but finished a bike length behind the stage three winner, who could hardly contain his glee at the finishing line.

Paris - Nice

Bennett powers to Paris-Nice Stage 3 win

00:02:51

12/03/2019 at 16:27

Bennett powers to Paris-Nice Stage 3 win

Fabio Jakobsen of Deceuninck-Quick-Step held off Dan McLay to finish third, but Groenewegen - winner of stage one and two - continues to lead overall by six seconds ahead of Team Sky's Michał Kwiatkowski .

“I had really bad legs the last two days,” said Bennett. “I knew that the form was there and I had to just keep trying.

“Today, the legs were a lot better — okay it was a lot easier. But I’m starting to get used to the cold weather. Today was my last sprint opportunity, and I did everything I could.".

Bennett has claimed victories on the final stage of the Vuelta San Juan in Argentina and the UAE Tour in the past two months making this a treble in the opening three months of the year.

“It’s nice to come back and to win again here. Strong competition here and last week [in the UAE]. I’m starting to show I can compete with the best.

“I’m very proud of that and very proud of the job the team’s doing for me.”