Bennett makes Dauphine sprint victory look easy

Sam Bennett's sprint finish on Stage 3 of the 2019 Critérium du Dauphiné was so dominant, he sat up and started his victory salute 20 metres before the line.

Bora-Hansgrohe's Sam Bennett celebrates his victory on the third stage of the 2019 Criterium du Dauphine (Getty) Source: Getty

The 28-year-old BORA-hangrohe sprinter has been in a determined mood this season picking up seven stage victories including two at Paris-Nice but still not enough to make his case for inclusion in the Tour de France team.

“It was a bit nervous today. I always find it harder when I’m the point of reference in the sprint," Bennett said.

"Today the other sprinters were watching where I was, it was hard to put everything together because GC riders and sprinters were all towards the front but it worked really well in the end.

"My team-mates worked very well all day. They rode at the front and they were there to position me in the final. At the last moment, I told [lead out man] Shane [Archbold] that I was still feeling good.

"I’m trying to get a stage win at every stage race I take part in. Only at the Tour de Romandie, I didn’t this year. I just try to keep improving myself, keep the consistency and keep going as a rider.”

The Dauphiné overall leader Dylan Teuns (Bahrain Merida) retained his position as all the ranked GC contenders including Chris Froome (INEOS), Adam Yates (Mitchelton-Scott), Nairo Quintana (Movistar) and Australian Richie Porte (Trek-Segafredo) finished together.

“It wasn’t easy to recover from yesterday’s efforts during today’s stage because of the bad weather, Teuns said. "The cold also made the race really hard but I had no issues in the finale so everything went well for my first day in the yellow-blue jersey."

Natnael Berhane (L) and Quentin Pacher enjoyed a nice ride in the country. (Getty) Source: Getty

Natnael Berhane (Cofidis) and Quentin Pacher (Vital Concept-B&B Hotels)led a long breakaway on the stage from Le Puy-en-Velay to Riom but were caught up with just five kilometres left to race.

That set up the bunch sprint where Bennett came out ahead of Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) and the Davide Ballerini (Astana).

Ahead of the peloton for Stage 4 is a 21.6km individual time-trial held in Roanne which will reset the top of the general classification.

"It’s a big day tomorrow, also for me to try and keep the jersey," Teuns said. "At the Tour of Valencia, I was only one second slower than Tony Martin in the individual time trial and I’m now in really good shape so I have to believe in myself.

"I’ve prepared very well for the Dauphiné and what’s coming after. I’m really happy about the form. Hopefully, it’ll give me some more success soon.”

Dylan Theuns stayed in the pocket of the peloton to remain in yellow. (Getty) Source: Getty