Tirreno-Adriatico: Bevin celebrates first WorldTour leader's jersey

09 March 2018 01:00
By finishing fifth in the stage 2 bunch sprint at Tirreno-Adriatico, Paddy Bevin moved into the blue leader's jersey. The New Zealander took the jersey off the shoulders of BMC Racing teammate Damiano Caruso and moved into the lead of a WorldTour race for the first time in his career. In the opening team time trial, BMC delivered Caruso over the line first for the second year running to ensure the Italian would pull on the first leader's jersey of the race. On Stage 2 of the race, the finale was better suited to the capabilities of Bevin than Caruso. However, Bevin explained that it was only mid-stage that the potential to ride for blue became open. A late crash almost derailed the opportunity for the New Zealander, who was held up by the mass fall. "It wasn't the plan coming into the stage for me to go for the leader's jersey, it came about as the stage went on," said 27-year-old Bevin. "We didn't have to do too much work, and my teammates geared me up to have a go at the sprint. We didn't have a guy to sprint, and they were keen to let me have a go in the final.ADVERTISEMENT "I actually got caught behind the crash and I only just got back on and was able to have a good run through the bunch because it was pretty spread out. It's a weird feeling to take a jersey from a teammate but the plan for the week doesn't change." A versatile rider capable of challenging in bunch sprints and punchy finishes, Bevin's 2015 season - in which he won stages of the Herald Sun Tour, Tour de Korea, and Tour de Taiwan and where he also wore the leader's jersey - earned him a ride with Cannondale-Drapac. Despite posting a number of top-10 results in WorldTour stage races with the American team, Bevin explained the finish in Follonica, won by Marcel Kittel, was his first real crack at a sprint in several years. "I have had moments in the past when I have had a good sprint, and as an amateur, I sprinted, but in the last couple of years it hasn't really been a priority," Bevin said. "Today was probably the first time in my whole career that I have had a teammate come to me and say that I should have a go and that they knew I could sprint." Dislocated shoulder for Kung You can read more at Cyclingnews.com.read full article

Source: Cycling News