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Ciaran Lennon Twitter
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Irishman Ryan Mullen received the champagne from the podium in Via Roma on Saturday as a thank you from his teammate Jasper Stuyven from Trek-Segafedo, who shocked the big favorites to win Milan-San Remo.
A A puncture and a mechanical problem ruined Sam Bennett’s chances of fighting for the loot in the first monument of the season.
Stuyven made a brave attack 3km ahead of an elite group of riders who were about to take a break at the top of the Poggio, and the 28-year-old Belgian was holding the sprinters off to defeat Caleb Ewan and defending champion Wout van Aert for the biggest win of his career.
After the stage wins in Paris-Nice and the UAE Tour, Bennett went into the 299 km long Primavera in glowing form, but a puncture as the race heated up to 40 km left the winner of the Tour de green jersey France on the back of the foot.
After a wheel change, the sprinter Carrick-on-Suir, who after Seán Kelly’s two victories in 1986 and 1992 only wanted to be the second Irishman to win Milan-San Remo, had to make his way back into the Peloton battles have the first of the last two climbs just before the Cipressa.
However, Bennett appeared to be struggling with a disc brake problem just before the Poggio climb, and after burning Tippingary to get back into the main group, During the ascent, the Tipperary man lost contact with the elite group, to which his team also belonged – comrade Julian Alaphilippe.
Like the other big favorites, the French caught a cold from Stuyven’s attack and finished in 16th place when Bennett crossed the finish line in 42nd place 29 seconds later.
« Sam was honest and he said he was not feeling super good. I tried to make the difference but it wasn’t enough to win, « said Alaphilippe.
However, for Mullen it has been the satisfaction of contributing to his teammate’s victory over the past four years .
« What a trip it has been the last four years together, » Mullen wrote on social media. « But seeing you win your first monument on the top step of the podium was very special and it was was amazing to be a part of. «
Nicholas Roche finished just under seven minutes before Mullen, but is back in action today as he kicks off the Tour of Catalunya, where he is supported by Dan Martin (Israel start-up ), who is racing again after Tirreno is absent -Adriattic o Earlier this month due to illness.
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