Sam Bennett wins Münsterland Giro in photo finish

Sam Bennett (Bora-Hansgrohe) won the bunch sprint at the end of the Sparkassen Münsterland Giro in Germany on Tuesday.

Irishman Bennett took the victory after the jury studied the finish-line photo, which showed that he beat German Phil Bauhaus (Team Sunweb) by a tyre's width in the UCI 1.HC-ranked race.

André Greipel (Lotto-Soudal) rounded out the podium in third place at the end of the 198.7km event that started in Wadersloh and finished in Münster. Fellow German Marcel Kittel (Quick-Step Floors) finished fourth.

It's Bennett's sixth win of the season after he took a stage of Paris-Nice, two stages of the Tour of Slovenia and two in the Czech Cycling Tour.

Before the bunch sprint was set up, the peloton had to catch a four-man escape group comprising former time trial world champion Tony Martin (Katusha-Alpecin), Luca Henn (Lotto-KernHaus), Etienne Van Empel (Roompot-Nederlandse Loterij) and Carl Soballa (LKT Team Brandenburg).

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Martin and Soballa were the last two riders in the break as they were caught with 20 kilometres remaining.

One noteworthy result was Alexander Kristoff in seventh place – it was the Norwegian's last race in Katusha-Alpecin colours as he has signed with UAE Team Emirates for 2018.

Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data) was also present in the race as he continues his comeback from a crash at the Tour de France, where he fractured his shoulder blade. The Manxman finished in 28th place.

Result

Sparkassen Münsterland Giro 2017, 198.7km

1. Sam Bennett (Irl) Bora-Hansgrohe, in 4-35-27

2. Phil Bauhaus (Ger) Team Sunweb

3. André Greipel (Ger) Lotto-Soudal

4. Marcel Kittel (Ger) Quick-Step Floors

5. Dylan Groenewegen (Ned) LottoNL-Jumbo

6. Matteo Pelucchi (Ita) Bora-Hansgrohe, at same time

7. Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Katusha-Alpecin, at 1 sec

8. Roy Jans (Bel) WB Veranclassic Aqua Protect

9. Andre Looij (Ned) Roompot-Nederlandse Loterij

10. Nicola Toffali (Ita) 0711 Cycling, at same time