Bora-Argon 18 sprinter Sam Bennett demonstrated his class at the first race after the Tour de France. In the opening stage of the Arctic Race of Norway the 24-year-old Irishman sprinted to the third place after 201 kilometers.

Bennett was defeated in the demanding uphill sprint only by the two Norwegians Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) and Edvald Boasson Hagen (MTN Qhubeka). For Bennett, who gave his debut at the Tour de France in July, it is the sixth sprint podium this season. Bennett is ranked as the best young rider in the overall standings and so he’ll start in the white jersey tomorrow.

"We can be very satisfied with this opening. For Sam and us it was important to see where he stands after the Tour de France. It was a pretty heavy finale and you have to be in good shape to finish on the podium. This makes us optimistic for the coming days. We were completely focused on Sam today, and the entire team has done its job very well. The guys positioned Sam very well in the finale. In addition, it was important to us that Paul [Voss] didn’t lose any time and he did very well, too. All around a good day for us", Andre Schulze comments the first stage of the Arctic Race of Norway.