Vuelta a España - Sam Bennett: I actually didn't think I was going to be able to catch Philipsen
Oct 24 2020 06:55 am CET
Photo of Sam Bennett © Deceuninck-Quick-Step Cycling Team / Getty Images
Sam Bennett (Deceuninck-Quick-Step) has taken his first victory since the Champs-Elysees day in the Tour de France at the fourth stage of the Vuelta a España.
The route of the day in the Spanish grand tour was suitable for the fast men and Deceuninck-Quick-Step knew it was the perfect day for Bennett to take the 39th victory of the season for the team. Despite the strong sprint of Jasper Philipsen (UAE Team Emirates) that looked like a clear one for the victory, the Irishman could make a strong acceleration right on time to cross the finish line ahead of the Belgian.
"It was so fast in the run-in, and actually, it was fast all day, and I was a bit nervous, got to admit that," said Bennett at the end of the stage. "We said we needed to come together at one point and the team did the job perfectly. They came together when we needed to and even more than we asked to be. We only asked a few guys to be there and the whole team was there.
"I went for the outside and Philipsen came up the inside and got such a jump I actually didn't think I was going to be able to catch him. But in the end, I started getting more and more speed and I was still accelerating to the line. I had the power but he was so explosive out of the corner and I didn't know if I would catch him. But I found the speed I needed, and in the end, I managed to overtake him and take my first win since Champs-Élysées, which feels amazing."
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