Bennati wins Giro della Toscana

Sam Bennett (Bora-Argon 18) got the better of Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data) and Daniele Bennati (Italian National Team) to win the final stage of the two-day Giro della Toscana in Pontedera in a high-speed sprint.

The Irish sprinter had struggled after finishing as lantern rouge at the Tour de France in the summer but is now building his form and his confidence for the world road race championships in Qatar, where he will lead the three-rider Irish team.

Bennett took advantage of the work of the Italian National Team in the final kilometres of the 185km stage after Bardiani and Movistar did the work to pull back the break of the early day. Bennett followed his sprinter's instinct to move through to the front and open up his sprint.

The mix of professional and under 23 riders in the Italian race worked to set up Bennati so he could secure overall victory. A television motorbike slowed the peloton coming out of the final corner and Bennett used the moment to move up several places and get onto the wheel of Sonny Colbrelli (Bardiani CSF) and Cavendish.

The Italian started his sprint early, giving Bennett an excellent leadout and allowing Bennett to then get the better of Cavendish. The Manxman was a little unhappy that Bennett moved off his line slightly but admitted to Cyclingnews that it was part of sprinting. Cavendish also showed his form as the world championships begin to loom on the horizon and the Great Britain team was named with Cavendish as leader.

Bennati was also disappointed not to win the sprint but took consolation with a rare overall victory in a stage race. He finished on the same time as Colbrelli and stage 1 winner Visconti, and with no time bonuses to separate them won overall thanks to a better placing on the final stage.

Bennett was happy to be back winning after a difficult season that was also hit by crashes.

“I’m really proud to win in Italy, especially considering the bad luck I’ve had this season and the riders I’ve won against today,” Bennett told Cyclingnews.

"I was struggling on the climb a little and cramping in the last 20km in both my legs but my teammates pushed me to hang on and suffer and then helped me in the sprint. I came into the last corner a little far back but kept my speed and ran around the others and got in behind the Bardiani guy. It was hard to wait, but he went early and so that gave me a perfect lead out.”

Bennati prefers September

A local Tuscan journalist suggested that Bennati often comes good in September and revealed he has won 16 of his 50 career wins in the later summer. Bennati admitted he prefers and performs better in the fall than in the spring. This year he again has excellent form after riding the Vuelta a Espana, where he finished second in two sprints. He will also celebrate his 36th birthday on September 24.

“I’m not sure it’s a factor but I know I’m not a very fortunate in spring. I always seem to go better in September,” Bennati explained.

“I’m not a stage race rider and never will be. But this race shows my consistency. I just regret not winning and celebrating with my arms in the air. But a win is a win and this goes on my palmares. Two months ago I was out with two fractured vertebrae, and so I’m happy to win, especially in front of my family and fans, who came from my hometown of Arezzo in southern Tuscany.

"This race is special to me because it’s dedicated to two greats of Tuscan cycling who mean a lot to me: Alfredo Martini and Franco Ballerini. That makes me even more proud.”

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