Sam Bennett’s chances spoilt by late crash

Sam Bennett claimed 10th place on yesterday’s fifth stage of Paris-Nice, the Irishman unable to emulate Tuesday’s heroic effort where he finished top of the podium at the end of the day.

Yesterday was another afternoon for the sprinters before the race heads for more mountainous terrain and Bennett was among the pre-race favourites starting in Quincie.

However, a massive late crash disrupted his run-in to the finish and he simply had no answer to German powerhouse Andre Greipel who claimed just his second victory in the event.