BinckBank Tour: Sam Bennett wins stage 3

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Sam Bennett (Bora-Hansgrohe) took his third consecutive victory at the BinckBank Tour in Aalter, beating Dylan Groenewegen (Jumbo-Visma) by a tyre-width, with the photo finish needed to confirm the Irish national champion was the winner. Jasper Philipsen (UAE Team Emirates) finished third.

A crash just before the final corner saw several riders go down or delayed, including Kristoffer Halvorsen (Team Ineos). That left just a handful of sprinters up front to fight for victory.

Philipsen started the sprint but acted as a lead-out for Bennett and Groenewegen, who went around him on the left and right of the road.

Bennett threw his bike at the line early and so lost some speed in the final metres, allowing Groenewegen to close the gap as he dived at the line. However, the Irishman again had the edge on his Dutch rival.

"I wasn't sure at all [of having won]," Bennett said, revealing he sprinted with a damaged bike. "I think somebody touched my bike in the last corner and so the gears where jumping like mad. I couldn't throw the bike around; I had to keep it solid. The gears were slipping and so I couldn't get power down.

"I got a run at the UAE rider and if it wasn't for that, I don't think I would have got it. I was really lucky today. But it was enough to get it, so I'm really happy."

Bennett is the first rider to ever win three consecutive stages at the Binckbank Tour and so extended his lead in the overall classification thanks to the time bonuses. Philipsen is second overall at 20 seconds, with Groenewegen third, also at 20 seconds.

"It's great (to win three). I heard I'd be the first to win three this morning. I'm glad to be doing my country proud in my national kit," Bennett said.

How it happened

The 166.9km stage started and finished in Aalter between Ghent and Bruges, with the riders covering a large loop in the north, followed by three 33km circuits to the south of the town. The Lotto Soudal riders lined up on the front as a minute's silence was held to remember Bjorg Lambrecht whose funeral was held on Tuesday in nearby Knesselare.

The race momentarily paid its respect to Lambrecht when it passed through Knesselare, with flowers presented to Lambrecht's family in another emotional moment for the sport.

An early break of four riders was pulled back with 72km to go but another attack was allowed to hang out front. This time Harry Tanfield (Katusha-Alpecin), Stijn Steels (Roompot Charles) and local rider Guillaume Van Kerisbulck (CCC Team) got away in pursuit of glory.

Their lead reached a minute as a series of crashes and mechanical problems hit riders in the peloton and a spell of heavy rain made the Binckbank Tour suddenly feel like a spring Classic. Fortunately, the roads soon dried out and the speed was high as riders fought for position on the Belgian concrete roads, bike paths and cobbled section that featured on the 33km circuit. Xandro Meurisse (Wanty-Gobert) went down hard but everyone else raced on. Oliver Naesen (AG2R La Mondiale) was a late puncture victim but took a wheel from a teammate and chased back on the long line of team cars.

Jumbo-Visma took over the chase with 12km to go, with EF Education First also up front before the series of Golden Kilometre sprints, allowing Van Kerisbulck, Tanfield and Steels to sweep up the bonus seconds as the peloton hesitated before the sprint.

The catch came with 3.5km to go on narrow country roads. Other attacks came, lining out the peloton in the cross winds but nobody could escape the grasp of the sprinters.

The Binckbank Tour heads to the Belgian Ardennes for Thursday's 96.2km hilly fourth stage around Houffalize, where the overall contenders and climbers are expected to take over from the sprinters.

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