Ireland's Sam Bennett is off to a winning start with his new team, Quickstep.
The Carrick-on-Suir rider has taken victory in the first stage of this year's Tour Down Under.
Bennett finished just ahead of Belgium's Jasper Philipsen in a sprint finish in Adelaide and will take a four-second lead into stage two.
“I’d be lying if I’d said I didn’t feel the pressure to get that first win,” said Bennett, who has become the first Irish cyclist to lead the Australian race.
“I am very happy it came today, on the very first stage of the season’s first race, and I can’t thank my incredible teammates enough, because the result is down to their amazing effort.
“The team is very confident in me and the way they rode was amazing and gave me great confidence. There’s a lot of experience in this squad, and they showed it today, together with that unique Wolfpack spirit, which you can feel it immediately.
"Everybody did a fantastic job and played a superb role, keeping me in position and making sure I was where I had to be in order to fight for the victory. The week has just started and I hope other good results will soon follow."
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