Daniele Bennati wins TT; consolidates lead at Circuit Cycliste Sarthe

Daniele Bennati (Leopard-Trek) upset the specialists Wednesday afternoon to take the victory in the 6.8km time trial in Angers to consolidate his grip on the overall lead at the Circuit de la Sarthe in France.

The Italian sprinter derailed Garmin-Cervélo’s hopes of pulling the double following Michel Kreder’s victory in the morning road sector. Bennati started last and had the time references against the best marks. David Millar and David Zabriskie finished second and third, respectively, at six seconds slower.

Laszlo Bodrogi was seventh on the stage at 11 seconds off the pace for Team Type 1 while Svein Tuft was 10th for SpiderTech at 13 seconds adrift.

Bennati carries a 16-second lead on Millar and Zabriskie going into Thursday’s final stage.

The win marks a first for Bennati.

“I am overwhelmed with winning a time trial,” Bennati said. “This is something I have never done in my career, and it is an extra special to have won while wearing the leader’s jersey.”

“It was quite the surprise!” noted team director Luca Guercilena. “He was well-motivated, so we decided to let Will Clarke have a good time trial and indicate to us where there were difficulties on the course.”

Clarke, one of the first riders to go off, set an early fast time and conferred with Bennati about the course. “Will gave good suggestions to Daniele,” Guercilena added.

“I was angry and agitated from the second place finish this morning,” Bennati said. “It set a fire in me to do well this afternoon. I was determined to have a good ride.”

“Normally, our goal would be not too lose too much time on specialists like Millar and Zabriskie, but while Bennati was out on the course, we saw kilometer by kilometer that was he doing really well.” Guercilena explained. We knew in the final kilometer, he could really do it, so we pushed him to go harder. He gave it everything. We’re very happy and proud.”

“I had a lot of adrenaline, and I managed to give it full gas from start,” Bennati recalled. “When I crossed the finish line, I saw the screen and knew I had won. It was a fantastic feeling.”

Stage 2b (ITT): Angers – Angers

• 1. Daniele BENNATI (ITA), Leopard-Trek, 8:13
• 2. David MILLAR (GBR), Garmin-Cervelo, at 0:06
• 3. David ZABRISKIE (USA), Garmin-Cervelo, at 0:06
• 4. Anthony ROUX (FRA), Française des Jeux, at 0:07
• 5. Biel KADRI (FRA), Ag2r La Mondiale, at 0:08

Full Results

Overall, after stage 2b

• 1. Daniele BENNATI (Italy), Leopard-Trek , 7:24:18
• 2. David MILLAR (Great Britain), Garmin-Cervelo, at 0:16
• 3. David ZABRISKIE (United States), Garmin-Cervelo, at 0:16
• 4. Anthony ROUX (France), Française des Jeux, at 0:17
• 5. Biel KADRI (France), Ag2r La Mondiale, at 0:18

Full Results

FILED UNDER: News / Race Report / Road TAGS: Circuit Cycliste Sarthe