It’s pretty safe to say that Carrick-on-Suir’s Sam Bennett has made an excellent start to life as a pro-cyclist. In recent weeks he has been gaining great attention from all over the cycling world thanks to his superb performances in Oman and he followed that up at the weekend with a stunning victory in Spain.
The 23-year-old sprinter won the second annual Clasica de Almeria to earn his first professional win in the colours of his new Pro Continental team NetApp-Endura.
Bennett managed to infiltrate the day’s main breakaway which featured two of his teammates who helped position the Irishman to launch his sprint for glory at the end of the testing 178km race. Juan Jose Lobato (Movistar) and David Vigano (Caja-Rural) completed the podium.
“At 100m to go my legs started to buckle and I thought I wasn’t going to make it. But luckily I did,” said a delighted Sam Bennett.