Sam Bennett: 'I couldn't let another stage get away'
The Irishman made sure of his second Giro d'Italia stage victory after some missed opportunities


Sam Bennett (Bora-Hansgrohe) knows his opportunities are limited in a climb-heavy Giro d'Italia, so he has to win when he can.
The Irishman collected his second stage victory in the 2018 edition when stage 12 reached the rain-soaked Imola auto circuit.
Bennett rode in the wake of his team Bora-Hansgrohe over the Tre Monti climb used in the 1968 World Championships and darted free when the thinned group caught the final two attackers on the circuit.
"I couldn't let another stage get away from me," Bennett said after adding to his first from Praia a Mare.
"The guys worked so well all day and on the last descent they tried so hard to pull them back. I saw the guys in front, my first target, then when I got to them [I went]. The finish line looked far away, I didn't think I was going to make it, then when I looked back, I saw I had a good distance that I just kept going."
Bennett failed to win, but collected four podiums in 2017. In 2018, he was worried he was on the same path after making the podium but losing to Elia Viviani (Quick-Step Floors) on the first two occasions when the race was in Israel.
Back in Italy, Bennett scored his first Grand Tour victory in Praia a Mare under the warm Southern Italian rays. Today, under clouds and rain, he took his second.
"It's hard to say. Maybe I wouldn't be so firm in my decision-making, maybe I would have hesitated. It would have a different outcome in the final, I think," Bennett said of already having one Giro win in his books.
"I suppose in one way I was surer of my decisions. When I decided on something, I just did it. "
Bennett is now within reach of the ciclamino points jersey currently on Elia Viviani's shoulders. Viviani has 184 points compared to 162 for Bennett.
"At the moment, I'm just looking at stages. I know we closed the gap a nice bit but if I use up energy in the intermediate sprints and I miss another opportunity to win a stage, I'd never forgive myself," continued Bennett.
"I'm just going for stages. In the last week, if I see that it's still close and the opportunity is there, then I'll make a call. But for now we've another sprint stage tomorrow and we have to go again."
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Gregor Brown is an experienced cycling journalist, based in Florence, Italy. He has covered races all over the world for over a decade - following the Giro, Tour de France, and every major race since 2006. His love of cycling began with freestyle and BMX, before the 1998 Tour de France led him to a deep appreciation of the road racing season.
-
-
Five talking points from stage 15 of the Giro d'Italia
Our highlights from a stage where the GC contenders rolled in eight minutes behind the day's winner
By Stephen Puddicombe • Published
-
Giro d'Italia 2022 standings: Results from the 105th edition after stage 15
The latest standings from the 105th edition of the Giro d'Italia
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Lennard Kämna: 'You need passion for cycling, otherwise it’s just a pain'
From being 'on the edge' to enjoying cycling again to winning at the Tour of the Alps
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Aleksandr Vlasov: 'I, like a lot of Russians, just want peace'
Bora-Hansgrohe rider calls for an end to Russia's war in Ukraine
By Adam Becket • Published
-
He wears an iconic Red Bull helmet, but 'I didn’t know what the f**k I was doing': the Bora-Hansgrohe ex-skier and novice cyclist on settling into WorldTour racing
Bora-Hansgrohe signed the German on a two-year deal that will expire at the end of this season
By Chris Marshall-Bell • Published
-
Alexandr Vlasov wins a career-first stage race as Jakobsen takes the final Valenciana stage sprint
Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl’s lead out back on top form to deliver the Dutch rider to his second win of the week
By Owen Rogers • Published
-
Bora-Hansgrohe release new-look 2022 kit
A new look for the German team this coming season
By Jonny Long • Published
-
Max Schachmann aims to target third Paris-Nice title in a row whilst maintaining late season form
The German national champion was almost gifted the win at Paris-Nice in 2021 after Primož Roglič crashed twice on final stage
By Tim Bonville-Ginn • Published
-
'It's really big, it shows that I can perform on the top level': Matt Walls jubilant after Gran Piemonte victory
The British rider agreed that his track experience helped him in the hectic finale
By Tim Bonville-Ginn • Published
-
Peter Sagan confirms Bora-Hansgrohe departure at the end of the 2021 season
The three-time world champion will leave the team, along with their talisman sprinter Pascal Ackermann
By Tim Bonville-Ginn • Published