Bennati Takes Opener in Valencia

Italian sprinter Daniele Bennati (Lampre) has clinched his second win of 2007 today, beating Alessandro Petacchi (Milram) to take the early lead in the Vuelta a Valenciana.

The 65th edition of the Spanish stage-race began in Alzira with a field of 143 riders representing 18 different teams. The first stage was largely flat, and travelled 163 kilometres before finishing back in Alzira.

At the finish, a mass field sprint ensued, with Bennati — who took victory in stage 2 of the Tour Méditerranéen a fortnight ago — beating off his compatriot Alessandro Petacchi. Ale Jet is also in fine form, having won the overall and three consecutive stages of the Volta ao Algarve last week, but he couldn’t quite contend with Bennati’s speed today and lost by a full bike length.

With all bonus seconds accounted for, Benna will wear the first leader’s jersey in tomorrow’s 148 kilometre stage from Calp to Calp. He is a slender 4 seconds ahead of Petacchi, with today’s breakaway riders Thomas Voeckler (Bouygues), Adrian Palomares (Fuerteventura) and Emanuele Sella (Panaria) also making an appearance in the top 10.

However, Bennati may not hold on to the jersey for long, as tomorrow’s stage features one 1st category and two 3rd category climbs before a sharp uphill rise to the finish line.