Gunning for green | Cyclingnews

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Daniele Bennati (Lampre-Fondital)(Image credit: Bettini Photo)

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Three wins against Alessandro Petacchi, one of the few racers regarded as a super-sprinter, left Bennati full of enthusiasm early in the season. Despite battling with the intestinal problems he picked up victory on Three Days of De Panne's Stage 2 and helped Ballan win Ronde van Vlaanderen. While some would be disappointed after a triple bridesmaid finish like Bennati's Suisse campaign, he's just delighted with his quick return to the peloton's pointy end after a touch-and-go spring campaign.

While Bennati says his sprinting style is similar to that of Milram's Petacchi, who requires a lead out by a full complement of henchman, he gets by with a limited number of men. "I am not a sprinter like McEwen," explained Bennati. "Certainly, I am not as explosive as he is. I think I am more like Petacchi. I think that Petacchi's sprint is very similar to mine. If possible, I would like to have the men at my disposal like Petacchi does but it is not easy to have a team built around you like that."

Bennati hopes a steady ride could launch hime into the green points jersey potentials, with the likes of McEwen. Last year a crash on the Col du Galibier descent ousted Bennati, but this year he hopes to fight on the Champs-Élysées with the Maillot Vert on his back. "I will certainly try for the green jersey," he declared. "I think it is a possibility, I hope. It will be very difficult but it is an objective.

"Definitely I just want to win a stage, it does not matter which stage," he continued. Bennati has come close to said accomplishment before, having arrived second in 2006's Stage 6 and third in Stage 3. "However, I think that this Tour will be very difficult for the sprinters with respect to last year," he added. "I have seen some stages on the internet. I have been inspecting the parcours to see where my possibilities lie. There will be lots of possibilities for me."

Bennati would like to add the London Prologue victory to that which he won in Switzerland. "I think to win will be difficult but it would be enough if I arrive in the first 10," said Bennati. "I will try to save as many seconds as possible and then try to do well in the following stages and, who knows, maybe I can arrive in the yellow jersey. I have not had the occasion to see the actual course in London but I have been studying it on the internet.

With the right timing Bennati could add his name to the list of sprinting champions that have etched their names into the Tour de France's history book. "I remember the sprints of Jalabert and Museeuw, and Cipollini," reflected Bennati. "A lot of the other greats too. Erik Zabel, who has won the green jersey so many times at the Tour. It is a pleasure to meet and ride next to these great champions."

Lampre-Fondital has already announced Damiano Cunego's absence from the Tour, which could afford Bennati more men for his sprint. Last year in his first Tour attempt, Cunego secured the young riders' Maillot Blanc. "Surely, he made his decision at the beginning of the year to do the Giro d'Italia and then he just finished the Tour de Suisse," speculated Bennati of the 2004 Giro d'Italia winner from Verona. "I believe that in the future he can also do well at the Tour, I am sure of it."

Bennati will be racing for more than his debut Tour de France stage victory in July, he also has his future to consider. At 26 years of age, Bennati should have a plentiful career ahead and with his contract expiring this season, will be considering his options. "I don't know yet, I will decide after the Tour," he said of his future. Bennati added that he isn't sure if he will actively pursuit teams or not, joking: "I hope that they come and talk to me! I don't have to stay with an Italian team, but it would be nice. I think that there are only two possibilities in Italy, Lampre or Liquigas. At Milram there is Petacchi. But who knows.

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