After a succession of second and third places this season, Daniele Bennati (Leopard Trek) has finally taken his first victory in his new team’s colours. The Italian sprinter outpaced Samuel Dumoulin (Cofidis), the winner of two stages in last month’s Volta a Catalunya, and Nacer Bouhanni (FDJ) at the end of the 191km stage between Le Chateau-d'Olonne and Saint-Mars-La-Jaille.
“With Davide [Vigano] pulling the sprint for me, I was third wheel in the last corner, 300 metres from the finish,” said Bennati. “When Davide moved to the side with 220 metres to go, I jumped. No one could follow me. It’s good to win like that. I give a big thanks to my team for this victory.”
Bennati has been competitive since the very beginning of the season, taking several podium finishes in the Tours of Qatar and Oman. His runner-up finish in Gent Wevelgem, behind Quick Step’s Tom Boonen, indicates that his form is on the rise again at just the right time.
“This win gives more importance to the second place I did last weekend in Wevelgem,” he added. “With the Giro d’Italia coming in three weeks, this is a nice point to start."
Despite several attempts to escape the peloton, from riders including Thomas Voeckler (Europcar), nobody was able to get away until 60km into the stage, when Jonathan Thire (BigMat-Auber 93) broke away alone. The Leopard Trek team managed to keep him at a manageable distance though, and finally reeled him in with 10km to go, with just under two if the four 6.8km finishing circuits remaining.
Into the closing metres, Bennati was led out by teammates Will Clarke and Vigano, and the Italian took his first win of the season.