(Bréda) Sam Bennett signed a second stage victory in as many days at the Cycling Tour of Spain on Sunday, at the end of a day when Canadian Michael Woods suffered a fall which forced him to give up the test.
Posted at 1:52 p.m.
The Irish cyclist completed the 193.2 km course in the Dutch city of Breda in four hours five minutes 53 seconds.
Bennett was dominant in the final meters to edge out Mads Pedersen and Dan McLay in the sprint. Pedersen was also second to Bennett on Saturday.
As for Woods, the only Canadian entered in the race, officials from Israel-Premier Tech announced on Twitter that examinations had confirmed that he had not suffered any serious fractures during his accident.
However, Woods, who has two career stage wins at the Vuelta, suffered a concussion and suffered multiple abrasions which were treated. The team also clarified that Woods will be returning home to prioritize his recovery.
In the general classification, the Italian Edoardo Affini took the leader’s red jersey with a cumulative time of 8:20:07. As a result, he allowed the Dutch team Jumbo-Visma to remain in good position to help Primoz Roglic to defend his title.
Affini is the third Jumbo-Visma color bearer to lead the general classification after the first three stages of the event, which have all been contested in the Netherlands. Robert Gesink and Mike Teunissen, both from the Netherlands, preceded him.
“It all started with winning the time trial, and it’s wonderful to be able to share those moments in our team’s country,” Affini said.
“I guess it’s even more special for our guys from the Netherlands, but it is for me too. To be the leader in the general classification here gives an extraordinary feeling. It’s crazy to be able to be the leader. »
The first six cyclists in the general classification are all Jumbo-Visma color bearers. Sam Oomen is in second place with Roglic just behind him.
As for Bennett, he had not signed a stage victory at a Grand Tour event since the 2020 edition of the Vuelta before ending his drought on Saturday in Utrecht.
“It’s quite nice to pull it off two days in a row,” said Bennett, who has 10 Grand Tour stage wins, including five at the Vuelta.
Roglic, who is looking for a fourth title in a row at the Vuelta, easily completed the stage in the leading pack to remain among the leaders in the general classification.
This was the last stage to be staged in the Netherlands before the race returned to Spain. The cyclists will enjoy their first day of rest on Monday before the race resumes in the Basque Country in northern Spain on Tuesday.