Sam Bennett (Bora-Hansgrohe) won the Towards Zero Race criterium in Melbourne’s Albert Park for a second consecutive year, after a strong breakaway was caught during the last 5.3km lap of the fast circuit that will host the season opener of the Formula 1 World Championships in two months’ time.
Mitchelton-Scott led the chase of the break along with Quick-Step Floors and seemed in control of the lead out. However, Ewan was suddenly left out front early, while Bennett timed his powerful surge perfectly. Viviani jumped onto the Irishman’s wheel but was unable to come past him at the line.
Steele Von Hoffe (Bennelong SwissWellness) came through to finish third, while Nikias Arndt (Team Sunweb) was fourth and Ewan fifth.
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“This win is really important for my morale and confidence,” Bennett said. “I came to the Tour Down Under and unfortunately fell ill there, and didn’t have very good form. Yesterday, I even had to turn back from training because I felt in a bad way. So, today’s result is a bit of a surprise. I had good legs and the Bora-Hansgrohe guys did an excellent job to put me in a good position into the final stretch. It is very encouraging to get this win, which I think bodes well for the rest of the season. To win twice here is also a great feeling.”
The 116-kilometre criterium is the warm-up race for the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, with Annette Edmondson (Wiggle-High5) winning the women’s race earlier in the day.
Richie Porte was not part of the BMC line-up on Thursday but most of the riders in Australia pinned on a race number to test their legs before Sunday’s race.
The smooth, wide roads of Albert Park inspired a fast race. The break of the day formed early with the initial seven riders in the move all working to open a gap. Mitchelton-Scott were working for Australian criterium champion Ewan, who was in his green and gold jersey for the race. They had some help from Quick-Step Floors but had to work hard to chase the break.
The riders up front included Owain Doull (Team Sky), George Bennett (LottoNL-Jumbo), Jose Goncalves (Katusha-Alpecin), Nathan Earle (Israel Cycling Academy), Peter Koning (Aqua Blue Sport) and Chad Haga (Team Sunweb).
They rotated like clockwork as the laps ticked down, with the speed so high that Haga and then Doull were eventually distanced.
The break led the peloton by 15 seconds at the start of the last of the 22 laps. They seemed poised to stay away but it proved one lap too far, with peloton catching sight of them on the long straights and then catching them with just over two kilometres to go. Koning and Goncalves were the last to give up, wisely swinging out of the way of the 60km/h peloton.
Mitchelton-Scott and Quick-Step Floors lined out and protected Ewan and Viviani, but the speed was so high that other riders and teams were also in contention. Mitchelton-Scott tried to take over in the final kilometre but they ran out of men, with a Quick-Step rider hitting the front and Ewan jumping on his wheel. However, Ewan was soon left on the front. He tried to open up his sprint but Bennett came past him with Viviani on his wheel.
The Italian won a stage at the Tour Down Under but didn’t have the pure speed to match Bennett and stop him taking a second consecutive victory in the criterium.
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
via Cyclingnews Latest Race Results http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/cadel-evans-great-ocean-road-race-towards-zero-race-melbourne-2018/elite-men/results
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