Sam Bennett had a solid start to his season on Thursday when he placed 10th on the opening leg of the Mallorca Challenge, the Trofeo Santanyi-Ses Salines-Campos.

The rider from Carrick-on- Suir, Co Tipperary sprinted home in the same time as the winner, Matteo Pelucchi of IAM Cycling, but might have been in contention for the win had bad luck not struck twice.

Bennett had mechanical issues with 10 kilometres to go and faced a chase to return to the front. His Bora-Argon 18 team worked to try to lead him out, but he punctured within the final 500 metres.

“He was forced to sprint from a bad position on a flat tire,” said Enrico Poitschke, the head sports director.

Pro year two

Bennett is in his second pro season and aims to build on the four wins he clocked up in 2014. Fellow Irishman Dan Martin was also in action yesterday, but finished three and a half minutes back.

The event continues today with a hillier race. The format of the Mallorca Challenge means riders can pick and choose which days they compete, although only riders who ride all four legs are considered for the overall classification.

Meanwhile, this week’s launch of the route of the 2015 An Post Rás saw a flatter course profile than typically seen in recent years. According to 2004 champ David McCann, this will be a boost for the prospects of the Irish amateur riders taking on the foreign professionals.

“In some ways it will keep more guys in contention,” McCann said. “The best county riders have shown they can climb with the internationals but, without the big climbs, more of the county riders have a real chance.”

“It is definitely a Rás for these guys to step up and stop just thinking about the county prize,” he added. “There is no reason why they can’t think of going for yellow.”

The race begins in Dunboyne on May 17th and features stage finishes in Carlow, Tipperary, Bearna, Newport, Ballina, Ballinamore, Drogheda and Skerries.