Cyclist Sam Bennett came agonisingly close to taking home a medal for Ireland at the European Championship as he finished fifth in the road race.
Bennett was a part of the breakaway group and made a dash for the line, but ultimately ended up finishing a couple of places outside the medal positions. The Irishman finished about a metre behind third placed Tim Merlier of Belgium.
It's a welcome return to form for the 2020 Tour de France Green jersey winner who has had a tough time of it over the last couple of years. In 2021, the 32-year old was unable to defend his green jersey after injuring himself just before the beginning of the race.
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This year, Bennett wasn't even selected for the tour by his team Bora-hansgrohe as a result of his poor form.
Today's finish though suggests that the Carrick-on-suir man still has some power in his legs and can still sprint to the line with some of the best in the world. While disappointed to miss out on a medal, the sprint star is happy to have found some form ahead of the Vuelta Espana which begins next week.
"I'm a little bit disappointed but it's been a while since my condition was at the top level," Bennett told RTE Sport immediately after the race.
"We had a strong team here, we had a plan and the boys did fantastic all day. The boys kept me very well positioned the whole day, kept me super fresh, kept me fed and watered.
"It was a really dangerous circuit and it was a bit of a lottery with the positioning and I did the last few (kilometres) alone but it might have been a bit better that I was alone because I could pick the wheels myself.
But I made a slight mistake in the last 500-600 metres and maybe should have moved up one or two places. But it's a step in the right direction and heading into the Vuelta (a Espana) it gives me a bit more confidence."
The past two years have been rough for Bennett, with the sprinter picking up a series of injuries. While still not 100%, Bennett feels closer to the best version of himself than he has in a long time.
"Today I had a lot more power, still a little bit to go but everything is coming around.
"It's nearly there now the condition, it's just I need something to click and once I get that, it'll just take off again and I can feel it's close. It's just taking a long time to get back to the top level."
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