Remarkable time trial provides opportunities for Bennett in Pais Vasco
After the opening time trial of the Itzulia Basque Country, George Bennett is still in contention for a good classification. On a steep climb along the way and partly due to the rain, the leader of Team Jumbo-Visma had to set foot on the ground, but his time was acceptable nevertheless. At the finish, Bennett had to give in just under a minute to stage winner Max Schachmann and finished thirty-sixth.
Sports director Sierk-Jan de Haan saw prospects for the rest of the week. “It was a very tough time trial. The climb was a kind of a goat trail, very narrow and very steep. The descent was dangerous with a few hairpins. George rode an acceptable time trial, on which we can build. We did not have the highest expectations for today’s TT. The stages that suit George best are coming later this week. Tomorrow's stage is not the toughest theoretically, but it is tricky and treacherous. We are racing on gravel roads and the wind and rain will also play a big role. It is important to be in the front at crucial moments."
Itzulia Basque Country: Stage 1
Stage 1 (ITT)
Result
1
Maximilian Schachmann
BORA - hansgrohe
00:17:10
2
Daniel Felipe Martínez
EF Education First
+0:09
3
Michał Kwiatkowski
Team Sky
+0:10
36
George Bennett
Team Jumbo-Visma
+0:58
43
Jonas Vingegaard
Team Jumbo-Visma
+1:05
58
Tony Martin
Team Jumbo-Visma
+1:14
89
Neilson Powless
Team Jumbo-Visma
+1:33
132
Sepp Kuss
Team Jumbo-Visma
+2:17
142
Bert-Jan Lindeman
Team Jumbo-Visma
+2:27
152
Daan Olivier
Team Jumbo-Visma
+2:43
Rankings
1
Maximilian Schachmann
BORA - hansgrohe
00:17:10
2
Daniel Felipe Martínez
EF Education First
+0:09
3
Michał Kwiatkowski
Team Sky
+0:10
36
George Bennett
Team Jumbo-Visma
+0:58
43
Jonas Vingegaard
Team Jumbo-Visma
+1:05
58
Tony Martin
Team Jumbo-Visma
+1:14
89
Neilson Powless
Team Jumbo-Visma
+1:33
132
Sepp Kuss
Team Jumbo-Visma
+2:17
142
Bert-Jan Lindeman
Team Jumbo-Visma
+2:27
152
Daan Olivier
Team Jumbo-Visma
+2:43
