Ireland's Sam Bennett has claimed the first stage of the Tour of Turkey.
The Bora-Hansgrohe rider won in a tight sprint finish ahead of Quick-Step's Fabio Jakobsen, with Caleb Ewan of Lotto-Soudal in third.
🇹🇷 #TUR2019
🏆🏆🏆 VICTORY 🏆🏆🏆@Sammmy_Be stroms to glory on the @tourofturkeyTUR opener!!
What a fantastic way to start #TUR2019 pic.twitter.com/LuYWhkh5lU— BORA – hansgrohe (@BORAhansgrohe) April 16, 2019
It continues a fine record for Bennett in Turkey, as he's now won eight stages of the race over the past three years.
The Carrick-on-Suir man has thanked his Bora-Hansgrohe teammates for their part in today's victory.
“The boys did a super job, I give them a lot of credit today. After my break, I don’t really have the same condition, but I know as a sprinter you still have to get the results. But without the guys today, it would have been very difficult. So I definitely want to thank them for that.
“I saw QuickStep coming at the last moment. I had to try to get that wheel. It was very difficult because he is a really quick guy. I am really happy to get that.
“As a sprinter you have to try to win all season long whether you are good or bad. Maybe I dipped my form a bit too much [during his break from racing], but it was enough today.”
Tomorrow's second stage is a largely flat 183-kilometre jaunt from Tekirdag to Eceabat.
