Liquigas sprinter Daniele Bennati confirmed his return to form today by winning the 159 kilometer third stage of Tirenno-Adriatico in Monsummano Terme ahead of compatriot Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-Farnese Vini) and Austrian Bernhard Eisel (HTC-Columbia). Thanks to the time bonuses on the day, Bennati moved himself into the overall lead ahead of Linus Gerdemann (Milram) and yesterday's winner Tom Boonen (Quick Step).
The teams of the sprinter's kept a tight grip on the 159 kilometer ride from San Miniato to Monsummano Terme, with the main three-man escape of the day containing Sebastian Lang (Omega Pharma-Lotto), Diego Caccia (ISD-Neri) and Cameron Wurf (Androni) never allowed much freedom. By the time the peloton could sense the finish all three were back in the fold.
Several overall favorites tried to jump clear on the run into the finish, including Italians Vincezo Nibali, Stefano Garzelli and Michele Scarponi, but the peloton had already decided that the day would end in a sprint.
After his third place finish yesterday, the Liquigas team of Bennati had confidence in their sprinter and took the initiative on the front. He didn't disappoint his teammates, beating Petacchi to the line, and with it, adding himself to the list of favorites for Milan-Sanremo later this month.
Tirreno-Adriatico stage three results:
1. Daniele Bennati (Italy / Liquigas-Doimo) 3h 54m 09s
2. Alessandro Petacchi (Italy / Lampre-Farnese Vini) s.t.
3. Bernhard Eisel (Austria / HTC Team Columbia)
4. Tyler Farrar (USA / Garmin-Transitions)
5. Juan Antonio Flecha (Spain / Team Sky)
6. Sacha Modolo (Italy / CSF Inox-Colnago)
7. Assan Bazayev (Kazakhstan / Astana)
8. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Norway / Team Sky)
General Classification after stage three:
1. Daniele Bennati (Italy / Liquigas-Doimo) 11h 44m 23s
2. Linus Gerdemann (Germany / Team Milram) @ 4 s
3. Tom Boonen (Belgium / Quick Step) s.t.
4. Pablo Lastras Garcia (Spain / Caisse d'Epargne) @ 8 s
5. Paul Martens (Germany / Rabobank) s.t.
6. Alessandro Petacchi (Italy / Lampre-Farnese Vini)
7. Lezaun Alan Perez (Spain / Euskaltel-Euskadi)
8. Matti Breschel (Denmark / Team Saxo Bank) @ 10 s