Tour de France

Sam Bennett was in all the right places on Friday’s leg from Bourg-en-Bresse to Champagnole, which hosted a Tour de France finish for the first time in 83 years, digging deep and putting again a fine effort for which he was handsomely rewarded at the end of the day. Top 10 in the small town located in the Jura department, Bennett made another trip to the podium, to receive a green jersey which he has a strong chance of taking home.

For more than 100 kilometers, the day belonged to Rémi Cavagna, the “TGV of Clermont-Ferrand” who attacked early on the stage and went clear alone, building a three-minute maximum gap over the bunch. The 24-year-old Frenchman, a debutant at the race, pushed a strong pace and remained at the front until after the intermediate sprint in Mournans, a fantastic display of strength and determination for which he was rewarded with the trophy for the most aggressive rider of the day.

“It was the last proper opportunity for a breakaway to go all the way and I felt good, so I just went. It was nice to be off the front, even though I was alone there, and show the team colours. I had a good speed in the first part of the stage, but then I began feeling those long days in the mountains. It’s my first Tour de France and to be on the podium as a recognition of my solo effort feels amazing and gives me a lot of pride”, Rémi said after the stage.

At the same intermediate sprint, Michael Mørkøv once again helped Sam Bennett finish ahead of all his rivals and bag in more vital points. That was the moment the race properly came to life, as many riders who sensed they could go all the way to the line shot out from the peloton. Cavagna and Tim Declercq were among the protagonists, but it was only with 30 kilometers to go that a group managed to get clear, and when it did, Bennett and Dries Devenyns were there, part of a 12-man group which quickly carved out a three-minute advantage. The Irish Champion remained attentive at all times and marked his opponents, sticking like glue to their wheels as the kilometers ticked down.

With 15 kilometers to go, Soren Kragh Andersen (Sunweb) attacked and carried the lead he forged out to the finish, where Sam arrived one minute later, sprinting to eighth and collecting more crucial points that helped him remain in firm control of the green jersey classification.

“Today was supposed to be a dangerous stage, a critical day where it was about being mentally strong. I just tried to mark Peter, as that was the way I had to race, but I also have to say a massive thank you to the team, who did a fantastic job. Michael, Kasper, Dries – who brought me to the front at the right moment when that attack went – Tim, all the boys were amazing and I’m grateful to them. It’s nice to have the green jersey on my shoulders going into the final weekend of the race”, a smiling Sam said.

Photo credit: ©Tim De Waele / Getty Images