After taking his first victory since last July on Wednesday, Sam Bennett notched up another superb win on stage three of the Four Days of Dunkirk on Thursday.
The Carrick on Suir rider defended the pink jersey of overall leader in style, easily winning the sprint into Bouchain.
He was positioned perfectly by his Decathlon Ag2r La Mondiale team, then blasted past former teammate Pascal Ackermann (Israel Premier Tech) inside the final 100 metres, holding off Milan Fretin (Cofidis) to win by almost a bike length.
"They were fantastic," he said of his team.
"The thing about sprinting is that it often doesn't go to the plan. We had a different plan today and the guys showed their maturity and their experience today in being able to adapt to the situation.
"They were able to make quick decisions when it wasn't going right and that’s what it is all about in sprinting. And that we continue this process where we get that flow and hopefully there are more results to come."
Bennett’s long wait for victory since last July led many to question if he could get back to his best. He took two stages plus the green jersey in the 2020 Tour de France but a combination of injury, illness and non-selection for key races hampered him in recent years.
He felt a lack of faith in him by his previous team, prompting a transfer to the French Decathlon Ag2r La Mondiale over the winter.He said he tried not to pay attention to the doubters.
"That’s just people on the internet," he said.
"If I didn’t believe I could still come back, I wouldn’t try. I still believe I have it."
Bennett went into the stage at the head of the general classification, four seconds clear of the next rider Fretin. The time bonus for his win now doubles that advantage to eight seconds.
The race continues with a mostly flat stage to Pont-à-Marcq on Friday, with multiple sectors of cobbles posing a challenge to the riders.
Bennett will aim to defend the overall lead if possible, and to take at least one more stage win before the race ends on Sunday.Beyond that, the Tour de France is a huge target for him this year.
"It’s the whole reason I am here [still racing – ed.]," he said.
"I had the green jersey before. I want to go back to the Tour, I want to show I am still capable. That’s why I am still here."
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