Tipperary's Sam Bennett pipped on the line in opening stage of race in France
Carrick-on-Suir cyclist finished second behind Mads Pedersen
Sam Bennett was pipped on the line in the opening stage at Critérium du Dauphiné in south eastern France.
The Tipperary cyclist was denied the stage victory by former world champion Mads Pedersen (Lidl Trek) and had to settle for second place in the bunch sprint.
Bennett (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) tried to come around Pedersen in the final 50 metres but was unable to do so, meaning that the Dane will wear the yellow jersey going into stage two.