Bennett outlasts them all to prevail

Sam Bennett capped a brilliant overall victory in the Suir Valley 3-Day last night when he won the final stage on the punishing uphill finish just outside Clonmel.

The An Post Chain Reaction rider used the sprint that has earned him such a fearsome reputation as he blasted past second-placed Páidí O’Brien (Planet Tri) and Ryan Sherlock (Polygon sweet Nice).

The race had looked in some doubt for the Carrick on Suir rider as he came into the stage with just a 20-second lead on Rapha Condor JLT rider Hugh Carty and when the latter forged his way into a threatening five-man escape group in the latter part of the race, and built up a lead of 1minute 30seconds, Bennett looked in trouble.