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| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1980|9|24}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1980|9|24}}
| birth_place = [[Arezzo]], [[Italy]]
| birth_place = [[Arezzo]], [[Italy]]
| height = {{height|m=1.84}}
| height = {{height|m=1.84}}
| weight = {{convert|73|kg|lb stlb|0|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|73|kg|lb stlb|0|abbr=on}}
| currentteam = Retired
| currentteam = Retired
| discipline = Road
| discipline = Road
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| ridertype = Sprinter
| ridertype = Sprinter
| proyears1 = 2002
| proyears1 = 2002
| proteam1 = {{ct|CTA|2002}}
| proteam1 = {{UCI team code|CTA|2002}}
| proyears2 = 2003
| proyears2 = 2003
| proteam2 = {{ct|DVE|2003}}
| proteam2 = {{UCI team code|DVE|2003}}
| proyears3 = 2004
| proyears3 = 2004
| proteam3 = {{ct|PHO|2004}}
| proteam3 = {{UCI team code|PHO|2004}}
| proyears4 = 2005–2007
| proyears4 = 2005–2007
| proteam4 = {{ct|LAM|2005}}
| proteam4 = {{UCI team code|LAM|2005}}
| proyears5 = 2008–2010
| proyears5 = 2008–2010
| proteam5 = {{ct|LIQ|2008}}
| proteam5 = {{UCI team code|LIQ|2008}}
| proyears6 = 2011–2012
| proyears6 = 2011–2012
| proteam6 = {{ct|LEO|2011}}
| proteam6 = {{UCI team code|LEO|2011}}
| proyears7 = 2013–2016
| proyears7 = 2013–2016
| proteam7 = {{ct|SAX|2013}}
| proteam7 = {{UCI team code|SAX|2013}}
| proyears8 = 2017–2019
| proyears8 = 2017–2019
| proteam8 = {{ct|MOV|2017}}<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telefonica.com/en/web/press-office/-/movistar-team-launches-2019-season-with-highest-hopes|title=Movistar Team launches 2019 season with highest hopes|work=[[Telefónica]]|publisher=Telefónica, S.A.|date=18 December 2018|accessdate=3 January 2019}}</ref>
| proteam8 = {{UCI team code|MOV|2017}}<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telefonica.com/en/web/press-office/-/movistar-team-launches-2019-season-with-highest-hopes|title=Movistar Team launches 2019 season with highest hopes|work=[[Telefónica]]|publisher=Telefónica, S.A.|date=18 December 2018|access-date=3 January 2019}}</ref>
| majorwins = '''[[Grand Tour (cycling)|Grand Tours]]'''
| majorwins = '''[[Grand Tour (cycling)|Grand Tours]]'''
:'''[[Tour de France]]'''
:'''[[Tour de France]]'''
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}}
}}


'''Daniele Bennati''' (born 24 September 1980) is an [[Italy|Italian]] former [[road racing cyclist]],<ref name="retirement">{{cite news |last1=Long |first1=Jonny |title=Daniele Bennati retires due to back pain after 18 years as a professional |url=https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/daniele-bennati-retires-due-back-pain-18-years-professional-442681 |accessdate=19 November 2019 |work=[[Cycling Weekly]] |date=19 November 2019}}</ref> who rode professionally between 2002 and 2019 for the {{ct|CTA|2002}}, {{ct|DVE|2003}}, {{ct|PHO|2004}}, {{ct|LAM|2007}}, {{ct|LIQ|2010}}, {{ct|LEO|2012}}, {{ct|SAX|2016}} and {{ct|MOV|2019}} squads.
'''Daniele Bennati''' (born 24 September 1980) is an Italian former [[road racing cyclist]],<ref name="retirement">{{cite news |last1=Long |first1=Jonny |title=Daniele Bennati retires due to back pain after 18 years as a professional |url=https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/daniele-bennati-retires-due-back-pain-18-years-professional-442681 |access-date=19 November 2019 |work=[[Cycling Weekly]] |date=19 November 2019}}</ref> who rode professionally between 2002 and 2019 for the {{UCI team code|CTA|2002}}, {{UCI team code|DVE|2003}}, {{UCI team code|PHO|2004}}, {{UCI team code|LAM|2007}}, {{UCI team code|LIQ|2010}}, {{UCI team code|LEO|2012}}, {{UCI team code|SAX|2016}} and {{UCI team code|MOV|2019}} squads.


Specialising in fast [[Cycling sprinter|sprint finishes]], Bennati turned professional in 2002, when he joined the team {{ct|CTA|2002}} and wore zebra stripes as part of [[Mario Cipollini]]'s leadout train. Upon joining the {{ct|LAM|2005}} team in 2005, he demonstrated the ability to win on his own, and continued to do so when he joined {{ct|LIQ|2008}} in 2008. Bennati has won 11 stages in [[Grand Tour (cycling)|Grand Tours]]: two in the [[Tour de France]], three in the [[Giro d'Italia]], and six in the [[Vuelta a España]]. He won the points jersey in the [[2007 Vuelta a España]], and the [[2008 Giro d'Italia|Giro d'Italia]].
Specialising in fast [[Cycling sprinter|sprint finishes]], Bennati turned professional in 2002, when he joined the team {{UCI team code|CTA|2002}} and wore zebra stripes as part of [[Mario Cipollini]]'s leadout train. Upon joining the {{UCI team code|LAM|2005}} team in 2005, he demonstrated the ability to win on his own, and continued to do so when he joined {{UCI team code|LIQ|2008}} in 2008. Bennati has won 11 stages in [[Grand Tour (cycling)|Grand Tours]]: two in the [[Tour de France]], three in the [[Giro d'Italia]], and six in the [[Vuelta a España]]. He won the points jersey in the [[2007 Vuelta a España]], and the [[2008 Giro d'Italia|Giro d'Italia]].


He retired at the end of the 2019 season, citing back pain.<ref name="retirement"/>
He retired at the end of the 2019 season, citing back pain.<ref name="retirement"/>
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===2002–03: At the side of Mario Cipollini===
===2002–03: At the side of Mario Cipollini===
At the age of 21, Bennati turned professional and joined the {{ct|CTA|2002}} team of the successful Italian sprinter [[Mario Cipollini]]. Bennati soon showed an ability to sprint of his own: in March 2002, he finished second in a stage of the [[Settimana internazionale di Coppi e Bartali]], behind [[Alessandro Petacchi]]. He took his first victory in June at the [[Tour of Austria]], and he took another one two months later at the [[Regio-Tour]]. He was an important part of Cipollini's [[Bicycling terminology#L|leadout]] train, alongside [[Guido Trenti]], Mario Scirea, Martin Derganc and [[Giovanni Lombardi]], helping Cipollini to some of his fourteen victories that year. When Cipollini dropped out of the Vuelta a España, Bennati received his team's support and managed his first strong result in a Grand Tour sprint stage, 5th at the stage twelve finishing in [[Burgos]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2002/vuelta02/?id=results/12|title=Petacchi ascends the throne|work=Cycling News|publisher=Future Publishing Limited|date=19 September 2002|accessdate=7 September 2012|author=Jeff Jones}}</ref> A few days later, he dropped out of the race too.
At the age of 21, Bennati turned professional and joined the {{UCI team code|CTA|2002}} team of the successful Italian sprinter [[Mario Cipollini]]. Bennati soon showed an ability to sprint of his own: in March 2002, he finished second in a stage of the [[Settimana internazionale di Coppi e Bartali]], behind [[Alessandro Petacchi]]. He took his first victory in June at the [[Tour of Austria]], and he took another one two months later at the [[Regio-Tour]]. He was an important part of Cipollini's [[Bicycling terminology#L|leadout]] train, alongside [[Guido Trenti]], Mario Scirea, Martin Derganc and [[Giovanni Lombardi (cyclist)|Giovanni Lombardi]], helping Cipollini to some of his fourteen victories that year. When Cipollini dropped out of the Vuelta a España, Bennati received his team's support and managed his first strong result in a Grand Tour sprint stage, 5th at the stage twelve finishing in [[Burgos]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2002/vuelta02/?id=results/12|title=Petacchi ascends the throne|work=Cycling News|publisher=Future Publishing Limited|date=19 September 2002|access-date=7 September 2012|author=Jeff Jones}}</ref> A few days later, he dropped out of the race too.


In 2003, Bennati stayed with the same team, although it had changed sponsors and was now called {{ct|DVE|2003}}. As his stature grew, Bennati was seen at Cipollini's side in his favorite Italian races. In the Grand Tours, Cipollini followed his usual practice of dropping out when the road went up, which gave Bennati a chance to race for himself&nbsp;– he was second to Alessandro Petacchi in one of the stages of the [[2003 Giro d'Italia|Giro d'Italia]]. His two wins for the year came in stages of the [[Tour Méditerranéen]] (in February) and in the [[Tour of Poland]] (in September).
In 2003, Bennati stayed with the same team, although it had changed sponsors and was now called {{UCI team code|DVE|2003}}. As his stature grew, Bennati was seen at Cipollini's side in his favorite Italian races. In the Grand Tours, Cipollini followed his usual practice of dropping out when the road went up, which gave Bennati a chance to race for himself&nbsp;– he was second to Alessandro Petacchi in one of the stages of the [[2003 Giro d'Italia|Giro d'Italia]]. His two wins for the year came in stages of the [[Tour Méditerranéen]] (in February) and in the [[Tour of Poland]] (in September).


===2004: Phonak&nbsp;– A difficult season===
===2004: Phonak&nbsp;– A difficult season===
At the end of 2003, Bennati signed a contract with the {{ct|PHO|2004}} team. However, his year in the Swiss team was spoiled by a virus that forced him to drop out of [[Tirreno–Adriatico]], and was followed by a recovery of several months. He did not get any victories during that season. In 2005, he signed a contract with the Italian team {{ct|SAE|2004}}, which then merged with {{ct|LAM|2004}} to form {{ct|LAM|2005|nolink=yes}}, a larger team that designed to compete in the [[UCI ProTour]].
At the end of 2003, Bennati signed a contract with the {{UCI team code|PHO|2004}} team. However, his year in the Swiss team was spoiled by a virus that forced him to drop out of [[Tirreno–Adriatico]], and was followed by a recovery of several months. He did not get any victories during that season. In 2005, he signed a contract with the Italian team {{UCI team code|SAE|2004}}, which then merged with {{UCI team code|LAM|2004}} to form {{UCI team code|LAM|2005|nolink=yes}}, a larger team that designed to compete in the [[UCI ProTour]].


===2005–07: Lampre&nbsp;– the breakout years===
===2005–07: Lampre&nbsp;– the breakout years===
====2005 season====
====2005 season====
At Lampre, Bennati grew from a promising [[domestique]] into a top sprinter. This transition was not instantaneous: early in 2005, he finished sprints behind both his old leader Cipollini, and teammate [[Giosuè Bonomi]]. Nevertheless, he accumulated a number of good finishes: 5th in a stage of [[2005 Tirreno–Adriatico|Tirreno–Adriatico]] and 28th at [[2005 Milan–San Remo|Milan–San Remo]]. His first important result was in [[2005 Gent–Wevelgem|Gent–Wevelgem]], where he outsprinted [[Thor Hushovd]] and [[Fabian Cancellara]] for 3rd place, behind the [[wiktionary:breakaway|breakaway]] of [[Nico Mattan]] and [[Juan Antonio Flecha]]. He tested positive for [[Betamethasone]] after the race, but was only handed a warning by the [[Italian Cycling Federation]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/uci-doping-news-10|title=UCI doping news|work=Cycling News|publisher=Future Publishing Limited|date=10 September 2005|accessdate=7 September 2012|author=Kristy Scrymgeour}}</ref> A few weeks later, Bennati won the [[Giro di Toscana]]. He did not compete in the [[2005 Giro d'Italia|Giro d'Italia]] – where Lampre concentrated on the overall victory with [[Gilberto Simoni]] and [[Damiano Cunego]] – nor did he ride the [[2005 Tour de France|Tour de France]]. In August, he won three stages and the points jersey in the [[Tour of Germany]], and had good placings in important races such as the [[2005 GP Ouest–France|Grand Prix de Plouay]] (4th), the [[Coppa Placci]] (5th), and the [[Giro di Romagna]] (2nd). September brought two more stage victories in the [[2005 Tour de Pologne|Tour of Poland]]. Thanks to these results, he was chosen for the Italian national team that competed in the [[2005 UCI Road World Championships|UCI Road World Championships]] in [[Madrid]], but the team leader, [[Paolo Bettini]], finished only 13th. At the season's close, Bennati was ranked 28th in the [[UCI Pro Tour]] standings, and had become a rider to watch.
At Lampre, Bennati grew from a promising [[domestique]] into a top sprinter. This transition was not instantaneous: early in 2005, he finished sprints behind both his old leader Cipollini, and teammate [[Giosuè Bonomi]]. Nevertheless, he accumulated a number of good finishes: 5th in a stage of [[2005 Tirreno–Adriatico|Tirreno–Adriatico]] and 28th at [[2005 Milan–San Remo|Milan–San Remo]]. His first important result was in [[2005 Gent–Wevelgem|Gent–Wevelgem]], where he outsprinted [[Thor Hushovd]] and [[Fabian Cancellara]] for 3rd place, behind the [[wiktionary:breakaway|breakaway]] of [[Nico Mattan]] and [[Juan Antonio Flecha]]. He tested positive for [[Betamethasone]] after the race, but was only handed a warning by the [[Italian Cycling Federation]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/uci-doping-news-10|title=UCI doping news|work=Cycling News|publisher=Future Publishing Limited|date=10 September 2005|access-date=7 September 2012|author=Kristy Scrymgeour}}</ref> A few weeks later, Bennati won the [[Giro di Toscana]]. He did not compete in the [[2005 Giro d'Italia|Giro d'Italia]] – where Lampre concentrated on the overall victory with [[Gilberto Simoni]] and [[Damiano Cunego]] – nor did he ride the [[2005 Tour de France|Tour de France]]. In August, he won three stages and the points jersey in the [[Tour of Germany]], and had good placings in important races such as the [[2005 GP Ouest–France|Grand Prix de Plouay]] (4th), the [[Coppa Placci]] (5th), and the [[Giro di Romagna]] (2nd). September brought two more stage victories in the [[2005 Tour de Pologne|Tour of Poland]]. Thanks to these results, he was chosen for the Italian national team that competed in the [[2005 UCI Road World Championships|UCI Road World Championships]] in [[Madrid]], but the team leader, [[Paolo Bettini]], finished only 13th. At the season's close, Bennati was ranked 28th in the [[UCI Pro Tour]] standings, and had become a rider to watch.


====2006 season====
====2006 season====
During the off-season, Bennati's team changed its secondary sponsor, becoming {{ct|LAM|2006}}, and signed another promising Italian sprinter, [[Danilo Napolitano]], setting up a competition for the top sprinter's spot on the team. Bennati started the 2006 season with two second places in the [[Gran Premio della Costa Etruschi]] (behind Alessandro Petacchi, who had taken over Cipollini's mantle as the dominant Italian sprinter), and then took his first win of the season in February's Volta a la Communitat Valenciana, four seconds ahead of the peloton, led home by Napolitano. In March, Bennati was due to be the team's leader for the important races. He probably was not at his best form when he started the [[2006 Tour of Flanders|Tour of Flanders]], and he had to drop out. He was then unable to start the [[2006 Gent–Wevelgem|Gent–Wevelgem]] race. Ten days later, however, a fully recovered Bennati won the final stage of the [[Giro del Trentino]], won overall by teammate Cunego. The next week, he competed in the [[2006 Tour de Romandie|Tour de Romandie]], where [[Robbie McEwen]] showed that Bennati was not quite at the top level.
During the off-season, Bennati's team changed its secondary sponsor, becoming {{UCI team code|LAM|2006}}, and signed another promising Italian sprinter, [[Danilo Napolitano]], setting up a competition for the top sprinter's spot on the team. Bennati started the 2006 season with two second places in the [[Gran Premio della Costa Etruschi]] (behind Alessandro Petacchi, who had taken over Cipollini's mantle as the dominant Italian sprinter), and then took his first win of the season in February's Volta a la Communitat Valenciana, four seconds ahead of the peloton, led home by Napolitano. In March, Bennati was due to be the team's leader for the important races. He probably was not at his best form when he started the [[2006 Tour of Flanders|Tour of Flanders]], and he had to drop out. He was then unable to start the [[2006 Gent–Wevelgem|Gent–Wevelgem]] race. Ten days later, however, a fully recovered Bennati won the final stage of the [[Giro del Trentino]], won overall by teammate Cunego. The next week, he competed in the [[2006 Tour de Romandie|Tour de Romandie]], where [[Robbie McEwen]] showed that Bennati was not quite at the top level.


The Lampre team for the [[2006 Giro d'Italia|Giro d'Italia]] was again built around the overall competition, and Bennati was not included. Instead, he participated in the [[2006 Volta a Catalunya|Volta a Catalunya]], winning the final stage ahead of [[Erik Zabel]]. In early June, he outsprinted his two breakaway companions to win the [[Memorial Marco Pantani]]. Although he could only manage 2nd and 3rd places in the [[2006 Tour de Suisse|Tour of Switzerland]], he did wear the leader's jersey for one day and won the points jersey. July brought Bennati to his first [[2006 Tour de France|Tour de France]]; he was among the top ten finishers in eight stages, including a 2nd place behind McEwen. He dropped out after a fall during the 16th stage; he was third in the points jersey competition at the time. Two months later, Bennati returned to the [[2006 Tour de Pologne|Tour of Poland]], where he won two stages and wore the leader's jersey for two days.
The Lampre team for the [[2006 Giro d'Italia|Giro d'Italia]] was again built around the overall competition, and Bennati was not included. Instead, he participated in the [[2006 Volta a Catalunya|Volta a Catalunya]], winning the final stage ahead of [[Erik Zabel]]. In early June, he outsprinted his two breakaway companions to win the [[Memorial Marco Pantani]]. Although he could only manage 2nd and 3rd places in the [[2006 Tour de Suisse|Tour of Switzerland]], he did wear the leader's jersey for one day and won the points jersey. July brought Bennati to his first [[2006 Tour de France|Tour de France]]; he was among the top ten finishers in eight stages, including a 2nd place behind McEwen. He dropped out after a fall during the 16th stage; he was third in the points jersey competition at the time. Two months later, Bennati returned to the [[2006 Tour de Pologne|Tour of Poland]], where he won two stages and wore the leader's jersey for two days.
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In July, Bennati rode in the [[2007 Tour de France|Tour de France]] for the second time; he now had enough stature that his goals of winning a stage and competing for the points jersey were considered reasonable. As his team had no rider for the overall standings, he could count on help from his teammates Ballan, Napolitano, and Corioni. However, he fell in the last kilometer of the second stage and was not able to unleash his sprint until he had recovered somewhat from his injuries. In the fifth stage, he finished 3rd, behind [[Filippo Pozzato]] and [[Óscar Freire]]. There followed a 6th place, a 4th place, some unsuccessful breakaways, and then, after the last mountain stages, Bennati won twice, including the prestigious final stage on the [[Champs-Elysees]]. On the strength of his successes, he was named the leader of the Lampre team for the [[2007 Vattenfall Cyclassics|Vattenfall Cyclassics]] race, but watched as his teammate Ballan took off from the peloton and held on to win.
In July, Bennati rode in the [[2007 Tour de France|Tour de France]] for the second time; he now had enough stature that his goals of winning a stage and competing for the points jersey were considered reasonable. As his team had no rider for the overall standings, he could count on help from his teammates Ballan, Napolitano, and Corioni. However, he fell in the last kilometer of the second stage and was not able to unleash his sprint until he had recovered somewhat from his injuries. In the fifth stage, he finished 3rd, behind [[Filippo Pozzato]] and [[Óscar Freire]]. There followed a 6th place, a 4th place, some unsuccessful breakaways, and then, after the last mountain stages, Bennati won twice, including the prestigious final stage on the [[Champs-Elysees]]. On the strength of his successes, he was named the leader of the Lampre team for the [[2007 Vattenfall Cyclassics|Vattenfall Cyclassics]] race, but watched as his teammate Ballan took off from the peloton and held on to win.


In September, Bennati raced in his second Grand Tour of the season, the [[2007 Vuelta a España]]. He won the first stage ahead of Freire and Petacchi]], and wore the leader's jersey for a day, losing it after a fall two kilometers from the finish of the second stage. After two second places, he came into his own during the final week, just as he had in the Tour de France: Bennati won the 17th stage and then the final stage in Madrid, taking the leadership in the contest for the points jersey on the final day of the race. This victory, his tenth of 2007, marked the end of Bennati's season. Although he had been scheduled to compete in the [[Monte Paschi Eroica]] and [[Paris–Tours]], he was found to have a broken wrist that ruled out any more racing.
In September, Bennati raced in his second Grand Tour of the season, the [[2007 Vuelta a España]]. He won the first stage ahead of Freire and Petacchi, and wore the leader's jersey for a day, losing it after a fall two kilometers from the finish of the second stage. After two second places, he came into his own during the final week, just as he had in the Tour de France: Bennati won the 17th stage and then the final stage in Madrid, taking the leadership in the contest for the points jersey on the final day of the race. This victory, his tenth of 2007, marked the end of Bennati's season. Although he had been scheduled to compete in the [[Monte Paschi Eroica]] and [[Paris–Tours]], he was found to have a broken wrist that ruled out any more racing.


During the final week of the Vuelta a España, Bennati had signed a two-year contract with a new team: {{ct|LIQ|2008}}. Claudio Corioni and Enrico Franzoi, valuable teammates who formed an important part of his leadout train, also signed for Liquigas.
During the final week of the Vuelta a España, Bennati had signed a two-year contract with a new team: {{UCI team code|LIQ|2008}}. Claudio Corioni and Enrico Franzoi, valuable teammates who formed an important part of his leadout train, also signed for Liquigas.


===2008–10: Liquigas===
===2008–10: Liquigas===
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===2011–12: Leopard Trek===
===2011–12: Leopard Trek===
At the [[2012 Vuelta a España|Vuelta a España]], Bennati took his first win of the 2012 season in a very close finish on [[2012 Vuelta a España, Stage 12 to Stage 21#Stage 18|stage 18]], edging {{ct|SKY|2012}}'s sprinter [[Ben Swift]]. He dedicated his victory to the memory of [[Wouter Weylandt]] and of his grandfather.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-18/results|title=Bennati sprints to photo-finish victory in Valladolid|work=Cycling News|publisher=Future Publishing Limited|date=6 September 2012|accessdate=7 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120908150517/http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-18/results|archive-date=8 September 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> Bennati left {{ct|RNT|2012|nolink=yes}} at the end of the 2012 season, and joined [[Bjarne Riis]]' {{ct|SAX|2013}} on a two-year contract from the 2013 season onwards.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/bennati-joins-saxo-bank-tinkoff-bank|title=Bennati joins Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank|work=Cycling News|publisher=Future Publishing Limited|date=14 September 2012|accessdate=14 September 2012}}</ref>
At the [[2012 Vuelta a España|Vuelta a España]], Bennati took his first win of the 2012 season in a very close finish on [[2012 Vuelta a España, Stage 12 to Stage 21#Stage 18|stage 18]], edging {{UCI team code|SKY|2012}}'s sprinter [[Ben Swift]]. He dedicated his victory to the memory of [[Wouter Weylandt]] and of his grandfather.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-18/results|title=Bennati sprints to photo-finish victory in Valladolid|work=Cycling News|publisher=Future Publishing Limited|date=6 September 2012|access-date=7 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120908150517/http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-18/results|archive-date=8 September 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> Bennati left {{UCI team code|RNT|2012|nolink=yes}} at the end of the 2012 season, and joined [[Bjarne Riis]]' {{UCI team code|SAX|2013}} on a two-year contract from the 2013 season onwards.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/bennati-joins-saxo-bank-tinkoff-bank|title=Bennati joins Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank|work=Cycling News|publisher=Future Publishing Limited|date=14 September 2012|access-date=14 September 2012}}</ref>


===2013–16: Saxo–Tinkoff===
===2013–16: Saxo–Tinkoff===
On {{ct|SAX|2013}}, Bennati managed to be a part of the team for the [[2013 Tour de France]], even though it was highly occupied by riders like [[Alberto Contador]], [[Nicolas Roche]], [[Michael Rogers (cyclist)|Michael Rogers]] and [[Roman Kreuziger]]. His goal for the Tour de France was not to win a stage, but to help Contador to get the overall victory.
On {{UCI team code|SAX|2013}}, Bennati managed to be a part of the team for the [[2013 Tour de France]], even though it was highly occupied by riders like [[Alberto Contador]], [[Nicolas Roche]], [[Michael Rogers (cyclist)|Michael Rogers]] and [[Roman Kreuziger]]. His goal for the Tour de France was not to win a stage, but to help Contador to get the overall victory.


==Major results==
==Major results==
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;2001
;2001
: 10th Road race, [[2001 UCI Road World Championships|UCI Under-23 Road World Championships]]
: 10th Road race, [[2001 UCI Road World Championships|UCI Under-23 Road World Championships]]
;2002 <small>(2 pro wins)</small>
;2002
: 1st Stage 1b [[Tour of Austria]]
: 1st Stage 1b [[Tour of Austria]]
: 1st Stage 5 [[Regio-Tour]]
: 1st Stage 5 [[Regio-Tour]]
: 3rd [[Gran Premio Nobili Rubinetterie]]
: 3rd [[Gran Premio Nobili Rubinetterie]]
;2003
;2003 <small>(2)</small>
: 1st Stage 3 [[2003 Tour de Pologne|Tour de Pologne]]
: 1st Stage 3 [[2003 Tour de Pologne|Tour de Pologne]]
: 1st Stage 5 [[La Méditerranéenne|Tour Méditerranéen]]
: 1st Stage 5 [[La Méditerranéenne|Tour Méditerranéen]]
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;2004
;2004
: 8th [[Vuelta a Mallorca|Trofeo Manacor]]
: 8th [[Vuelta a Mallorca|Trofeo Manacor]]
;2005
;2005 <small>(6)</small>
: 1st [[Giro di Toscana]]
: 1st [[Giro di Toscana]]
: [[2005 Deutschland Tour|Deutschland Tour]]
: [[2005 Deutschland Tour|Deutschland Tour]]
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: 5th [[Coppa Placci]]
: 5th [[Coppa Placci]]
: 6th [[Gran Premio della Costa Etruschi]]
: 6th [[Gran Premio della Costa Etruschi]]
;2006
;2006 <small>(8)</small>
: 1st [[Giro del Piemonte]]
: 1st [[Giro del Piemonte]]
: 1st [[Gran Premio Città di Misano – Adriatico]]
: 1st [[Gran Premio Città di Misano – Adriatico]]
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: 1st Stage 5 [[Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana]]
: 1st Stage 5 [[Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana]]
: 1st Stage 4 [[2006 Giro del Trentino|Giro del Trentino]]
: 1st Stage 4 [[2006 Giro del Trentino|Giro del Trentino]]
: 1st [[File:Jersey green.svg|20px]] Points classification [[2006 Tour de Suisse|Tour de Suisse]]
: 1st [[File:Jersey green.svg|20px]] Points classification, [[2006 Tour de Suisse|Tour de Suisse]]
: 2nd [[Gran Premio della Costa Etruschi]]
: 2nd [[Gran Premio della Costa Etruschi]]
;2007 <small>(10)</small>
;2007
: [[2007 Tour de France|Tour de France]]
: [[2007 Tour de France|Tour de France]]
::1st Stages 17 & 20
::1st Stages 17 & 20
Line 152: Line 152:
::1st Stages 1, 3 & 5
::1st Stages 1, 3 & 5
: 1st Stage 2 [[La Méditerranéenne|Tour Méditerranéen]]
: 1st Stage 2 [[La Méditerranéenne|Tour Méditerranéen]]
: 1st [[File:Jersey green.svg|20px]] Points classification [[2007 Tour de Suisse|Tour de Suisse]]
: 1st [[File:Jersey green.svg|20px]] Points classification, [[2007 Tour de Suisse|Tour de Suisse]]
: 3rd [[Gran Premio della Costa Etruschi]]
: 3rd [[Gran Premio della Costa Etruschi]]
: 4th [[Trofeo Laigueglia]]
: 4th [[Trofeo Laigueglia]]
Line 158: Line 158:
::1st [[File:Jersey green.svg|20px]] Points classification
::1st [[File:Jersey green.svg|20px]] Points classification
::1st Stage 1
::1st Stage 1
;2008
;2008 <small>(7)</small>
: 1st [[Giro del Piemonte]]
: 1st [[Giro del Piemonte]]
: [[2008 Giro d'Italia|Giro d'Italia]]
: [[2008 Giro d'Italia|Giro d'Italia]]
Line 170: Line 170:
: 1st Stage 3 [[2008 Eneco Tour|Eneco Tour]]
: 1st Stage 3 [[2008 Eneco Tour|Eneco Tour]]
: 8th [[2008 Paris–Tours|Paris–Tours]]
: 8th [[2008 Paris–Tours|Paris–Tours]]
;2009
;2009 <small>(4)</small>
: 1st Overall [[Giro di Sardegna]]
: 1st Overall [[Giro di Sardegna]]
::1st Stage 4
::1st Stage 4
Line 180: Line 180:
: 10th Overall [[Giro della Provincia di Grosseto]]
: 10th Overall [[Giro della Provincia di Grosseto]]
::1st Stage 1
::1st Stage 1
;2010
;2010 <small>(3)</small>
: 1st [[Giro di Toscana]]
: 1st [[Giro di Toscana]]
: 1st Stage 3 [[2010 Tirreno–Adriatico|Tirreno–Adriatico]]
: 1st Stage 3 [[2010 Tirreno–Adriatico|Tirreno–Adriatico]]
Line 188: Line 188:
: 5th [[Coppa Bernocchi]]
: 5th [[Coppa Bernocchi]]
: 6th [[2010 Vattenfall Cyclassics|Vattenfall Cyclassics]]
: 6th [[2010 Vattenfall Cyclassics|Vattenfall Cyclassics]]
;2011
;2011 <small>(6)</small>
: [[Circuit de la Sarthe (cycling)|Circuit de la Sarthe]]
: [[Circuit de la Sarthe (cycling)|Circuit de la Sarthe]]
::1st [[File:Jersey green.svg|20px]] Points classification
::1st [[File:Jersey green.svg|20px]] Points classification
Line 201: Line 201:
: 7th [[Giro del Piemonte]]
: 7th [[Giro del Piemonte]]
: 10th [[Gran Premio Industria e Commercio di Prato]]
: 10th [[Gran Premio Industria e Commercio di Prato]]
;2012
;2012 <small>(1)</small>
: 1st Stage 18 [[2012 Vuelta a España|Vuelta a España]]
: 1st Stage 18 [[2012 Vuelta a España|Vuelta a España]]
: 5th [[Vuelta a Mallorca|Trofeo Palma de Mallorca]]
: 5th [[Vuelta a Mallorca|Trofeo Palma de Mallorca]]
Line 210: Line 210:
: 2nd [[Gran Premio Nobili Rubinetterie]]
: 2nd [[Gran Premio Nobili Rubinetterie]]
: 5th [[2013 GP Ouest–France|GP Ouest–France]]
: 5th [[2013 GP Ouest–France|GP Ouest–France]]
;2015
;2015 <small>(1)</small>
: 1st [[Gran Premio Industria e Commercio di Prato]]
: 1st [[Gran Premio Industria e Commercio di Prato]]
: 3rd [[Italian National Time Trial Championships|Time trial]], National Road Championships
: 3rd [[Italian National Time Trial Championships|Time trial]], National Road Championships
: 7th [[2015 Gran Piemonte|Gran Piemonte]]
: 7th [[2015 Gran Piemonte|Gran Piemonte]]
;2016
;2016 <small>(3)</small>
: 1st [[File:Jersey white.svg|20px]] Overall [[Giro di Toscana]]
: 1st [[File:Jersey white.svg|20px]] Overall [[Giro di Toscana]]
: [[2016 Danmark Rundt|Danmark Rundt]]
: [[2016 Danmark Rundt|Danmark Rundt]]
Line 230: Line 230:
{{div col end}}
{{div col end}}


===Grand Tour results timeline===
===Grand Tour general classification results timeline===
Source:<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.procyclingstats.com/rider.php?id=140550&season=2017 |title = Daniele Bennati|work=Procyclingstats|publisher=Stephan van der Zwan|access-date=12 July 2019}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|colspan=18 align="center"|'''Grand Tour general classification results timeline'''<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.procyclingstats.com/rider.php?id=140550&season=2017 |title = Daniele Bennati|work=Procyclingstats|publisher=Stephan van der Zwan|accessdate=12 July 2019}}</ref>
|-
|-
! scope="col" | Grand Tour
! scope="col" | Grand Tour
Line 310: Line 309:
| —
| —
| [[2018 Vuelta a España|133]]
| [[2018 Vuelta a España|133]]
|}

===Classics results timeline===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Monument
! scope="col" | 2002
! scope="col" | 2003
! scope="col" | 2004
! scope="col" | 2005
! scope="col" | 2006
! scope="col" | 2007
! scope="col" | 2008
! scope="col" | 2009
! scope="col" | 2010
! scope="col" | 2011
! scope="col" | 2012
! scope="col" | 2013
! scope="col" | 2014
! scope="col" | 2015
! scope="col" | 2016
! scope="col" | 2017
! scope="col" | 2018
! scope="col" | 2019
|- style="text-align:center;"
| style="text-align:left; background:#efefef;"|[[Milan–San Remo]]
| —
| [[2003 Milan–San Remo|65]]
| —
| [[2005 Milan–San Remo|28]]
| —
| [[2007 Milan–San Remo|26]]
| —
| style="background:#ddf;" |[[2009 Milan–San Remo|6]]
| style="background:#ddf;" |[[2010 Milan–San Remo|5]]
| [[2011 Milan–San Remo|13]]
| style="background:#ddf;" |[[2012 Milan–San Remo|10]]
| [[2013 Milan–San Remo|28]]
| [[2014 Milan–San Remo|18]]
| [[2015 Milan–San Remo|DNF]]
| [[2016 Milan–San Remo|DNF]]
| [[2017 Milan–San Remo|14]]
| [[2018 Milan–San Remo|91]]
| [[2019 Milan–San Remo|144]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
| style="text-align:left; background:#efefef;"|[[Tour of Flanders]]
| —
| [[2003 Tour of Flanders|DNF]]
| —
| [[2005 Tour of Flanders|53]]
| —
| [[2007 Tour of Flanders|19]]
| —
| [[2009 Tour of Flanders|DNF]]
| [[2010 Tour of Flanders|DNF]]
| —
| [[2012 Tour of Flanders|94]]
| [[2013 Tour of Flanders|DNF]]
| [[2014 Tour of Flanders|DNF]]
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|- style="text-align:center;"
| style="text-align:left; background:#efefef;"|[[Paris–Roubaix]]
| —
| [[2003 Paris–Roubaix|DNF]]
| —
| [[2005 Paris–Roubaix|DNF]]
| —
| [[2007 Paris–Roubaix|DNF]]
| —
| —
| —
| —
| [[2012 Paris–Roubaix|86]]
| —
| —
| —
| —
| [[2017 Paris–Roubaix|41]]
| —
| [[2019 Paris–Roubaix|DNF]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
| style="text-align:left; background:#efefef;"|[[Liège–Bastogne–Liège]]
| style="color:#4d4d4d;" colspan=19 |Did not contest during career
|- style="text-align:center;"
| style="text-align:left; background:#efefef;"|[[Giro di Lombardia]]
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| [[2015 Il Lombardia|DNF]]
| —
| —
| —
| —
|-
! Classic
! scope="col" | 2002
! scope="col" | 2003
! scope="col" | 2004
! scope="col" | 2005
! scope="col" | 2006
! scope="col" | 2007
! scope="col" | 2008
! scope="col" | 2009
! scope="col" | 2010
! scope="col" | 2011
! scope="col" | 2012
! scope="col" | 2013
! scope="col" | 2014
! scope="col" | 2015
! scope="col" | 2016
! scope="col" | 2017
! scope="col" | 2018
! scope="col" | 2019
|- style="text-align:center;"
| style="text-align:left; background:#efefef;"|[[Strade Bianche]]
| style="color:#4d4d4d;" colspan=5 |Race did not exist
| —
| —
| [[2009 Monte Paschi Strade Bianche - Eroica Toscana|11]]
| —
| [[2011 Montepaschi Strade Bianche|DNF]]
| [[2012 Strade Bianche|11]]
| —
| [[2014 Strade Bianche|51]]
| [[2015 Strade Bianche|61]]
| [[2016 Strade Bianche|54]]
| —
| [[2018 Strade Bianche|DNF]]
| —
|- style="text-align:center;"
| style="text-align:left; background:#efefef;"|[[Gent–Wevelgem]]
| —
| [[2003 Gent–Wevelgem|DNF]]
| —
| style=background:#C9AE5D;" |[[2005 Gent–Wevelgem|'''3''']]
| —
| [[2007 Gent–Wevelgem|DNF]]
| —
| —
| [[2010 Gent–Wevelgem|26]]
| style="background:silver;" |[[2011 Gent–Wevelgem|'''2''']]
| style="background:#ddf;" |[[2012 Gent–Wevelgem|6]]
| [[2013 Gent–Wevelgem|DNF]]
| [[2014 Gent–Wevelgem|18]]
| —
| —
| [[2017 Gent–Wevelgem|24]]
| [[2018 Gent–Wevelgem|DNF]]
| —
|- style="text-align:center;"
| style="text-align:left; background:#efefef;"|[[Hamburg Cyclassics]]
| [[2002 HEW Cyclassics|93]]
| [[2003 HEW Cyclassics|82]]
| —
| [[2005 HEW Cyclassics|DNF]]
| [[2006 Vattenfall Cyclassics|55]]
| [[2007 Vattenfall Cyclassics|73]]
| —
| style="background:#ddf;" |[[2009 Vattenfall Cyclassics|7]]
| style="background:#ddf;" |[[2010 Vattenfall Cyclassics|6]]
| —
| —
| [[2013 Vattenfall Cyclassics|56]]
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|- style="text-align:center;"
| style="text-align:left; background:#efefef;"|[[GP Ouest-France]]
| —
| —
| —
| style="background:#ddf;" |[[2005 GP Ouest-France|4]]
| [[2006 GP Ouest-France|DNF]]
| —
| —
| [[2009 GP Ouest-France|18]]
| —
| —
| —
| style="background:#ddf;" |[[2013 GP Ouest-France|5]]
| —
| —
| —
| [[2017 Bretagne Classic Ouest-France|21]]
| —
| —
|- style="text-align:center;"
| style="text-align:left; background:#efefef;"|[[Paris–Tours]]
| [[2002 Paris–Tours|101]]
| —
| —
| style="background:silver;" |[[2005 Paris–Tours|'''2''']]
| [[2006 Paris–Tours|37]]
| —
| style="background:#ddf;" |[[2008 Paris–Tours|8]]
| —
| [[2010 Paris–Tours|42]]
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Legend
|-
! scope="row" | —
| Did not compete
|-
! scope="row" | [[Did not finish|DNF]]
| Did not finish
|}
|}


Line 317: Line 549:
==External links==
==External links==
{{Commons category-inline}}
{{Commons category-inline}}
* {{UCI}}
* [http://www.cyclingbase.com/palcoureurs.php?id=565&idtitle=1 Daniele Bennati's profile at Cycling Base]
* {{cycling archives|1921}}
* {{Cycling Archives}}
*{{Procyclingstats}}
* {{ProCyclingStats}}
* {{CQ Ranking}}
* {{CycleBase}}


{{Giro d'Italia points classification winners}}
{{Giro d'Italia points classification winners}}
{{Vuelta a España Points Classification}}
{{Vuelta a España Points Classification}}

{{authority control}}
{{authority control}}


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[[Category:Italian Vuelta a España stage winners]]
[[Category:Italian Vuelta a España stage winners]]
[[Category:Italian Giro d'Italia stage winners]]
[[Category:Italian Giro d'Italia stage winners]]
[[Category:Cyclists from Tuscany]]

Revision as of 17:45, 11 May 2024

Daniele Bennati
Bennati at the 2015 Tour de France
Personal information
Full nameDaniele Bennati
NicknameBenna
Born (1980-09-24) 24 September 1980 (age 44)
Arezzo, Italy
Height1.84 m (6 ft 1⁄2 in)
Weight73 kg (161 lb; 11 st 7 lb)
Team information
Current teamRetired
DisciplineRoad
RoleRider
Rider typeSprinter
Professional teams
2002Acqua & Sapone–Cantina Tollo
2003De Nardi–Colpack
2004Phonak
2005–2007Lampre–Caffita
2008–2010Liquigas
2011–2012Leopard Trek
2013–2016Saxo–Tinkoff
2017–2019Movistar Team[1]
Major wins
Grand Tours
Tour de France
2 individual stages (2007)
Giro d'Italia
Points classification (2008)
3 individual stages (2008)
Vuelta a España
Points classification (2007)
6 individual stages (2007, 2008, 2011, 2012)
2 TTT (2008, 2011)

One-day races and Classics

Giro del Piemonte (2006, 2008)

Daniele Bennati (born 24 September 1980) is an Italian former road racing cyclist,[2] who rode professionally between 2002 and 2019 for the Acqua & Sapone–Cantina Tollo, De Nardi–Colpack, Phonak, Lampre–Fondital, Liquigas–Doimo, RadioShack–Nissan, Tinkoff and Movistar Team squads.

Specialising in fast sprint finishes, Bennati turned professional in 2002, when he joined the team Acqua & Sapone–Cantina Tollo and wore zebra stripes as part of Mario Cipollini's leadout train. Upon joining the Lampre–Caffita team in 2005, he demonstrated the ability to win on his own, and continued to do so when he joined Liquigas in 2008. Bennati has won 11 stages in Grand Tours: two in the Tour de France, three in the Giro d'Italia, and six in the Vuelta a España. He won the points jersey in the 2007 Vuelta a España, and the Giro d'Italia.

He retired at the end of the 2019 season, citing back pain.[2]

Biography

Early days

Bennati was born in Arezzo, Tuscany, into a family of cyclists. His father did well as an amateur, and his brother raced as a junior.[3] Bennati entered and won his first race at the age of 9. As an amateur he raced in the Grassi Mapei team, and won a stage of the Giro delle Regioni.

2002–03: At the side of Mario Cipollini

At the age of 21, Bennati turned professional and joined the Acqua & Sapone–Cantina Tollo team of the successful Italian sprinter Mario Cipollini. Bennati soon showed an ability to sprint of his own: in March 2002, he finished second in a stage of the Settimana internazionale di Coppi e Bartali, behind Alessandro Petacchi. He took his first victory in June at the Tour of Austria, and he took another one two months later at the Regio-Tour. He was an important part of Cipollini's leadout train, alongside Guido Trenti, Mario Scirea, Martin Derganc and Giovanni Lombardi, helping Cipollini to some of his fourteen victories that year. When Cipollini dropped out of the Vuelta a España, Bennati received his team's support and managed his first strong result in a Grand Tour sprint stage, 5th at the stage twelve finishing in Burgos.[4] A few days later, he dropped out of the race too.

In 2003, Bennati stayed with the same team, although it had changed sponsors and was now called De Nardi–Colpack. As his stature grew, Bennati was seen at Cipollini's side in his favorite Italian races. In the Grand Tours, Cipollini followed his usual practice of dropping out when the road went up, which gave Bennati a chance to race for himself – he was second to Alessandro Petacchi in one of the stages of the Giro d'Italia. His two wins for the year came in stages of the Tour Méditerranéen (in February) and in the Tour of Poland (in September).

2004: Phonak – A difficult season

At the end of 2003, Bennati signed a contract with the Phonak team. However, his year in the Swiss team was spoiled by a virus that forced him to drop out of Tirreno–Adriatico, and was followed by a recovery of several months. He did not get any victories during that season. In 2005, he signed a contract with the Italian team Saeco, which then merged with Lampre to form Lampre–Caffita, a larger team that designed to compete in the UCI ProTour.

2005–07: Lampre – the breakout years

2005 season

At Lampre, Bennati grew from a promising domestique into a top sprinter. This transition was not instantaneous: early in 2005, he finished sprints behind both his old leader Cipollini, and teammate Giosuè Bonomi. Nevertheless, he accumulated a number of good finishes: 5th in a stage of Tirreno–Adriatico and 28th at Milan–San Remo. His first important result was in Gent–Wevelgem, where he outsprinted Thor Hushovd and Fabian Cancellara for 3rd place, behind the breakaway of Nico Mattan and Juan Antonio Flecha. He tested positive for Betamethasone after the race, but was only handed a warning by the Italian Cycling Federation.[5] A few weeks later, Bennati won the Giro di Toscana. He did not compete in the Giro d'Italia – where Lampre concentrated on the overall victory with Gilberto Simoni and Damiano Cunego – nor did he ride the Tour de France. In August, he won three stages and the points jersey in the Tour of Germany, and had good placings in important races such as the Grand Prix de Plouay (4th), the Coppa Placci (5th), and the Giro di Romagna (2nd). September brought two more stage victories in the Tour of Poland. Thanks to these results, he was chosen for the Italian national team that competed in the UCI Road World Championships in Madrid, but the team leader, Paolo Bettini, finished only 13th. At the season's close, Bennati was ranked 28th in the UCI Pro Tour standings, and had become a rider to watch.

2006 season

During the off-season, Bennati's team changed its secondary sponsor, becoming Lampre–Fondital, and signed another promising Italian sprinter, Danilo Napolitano, setting up a competition for the top sprinter's spot on the team. Bennati started the 2006 season with two second places in the Gran Premio della Costa Etruschi (behind Alessandro Petacchi, who had taken over Cipollini's mantle as the dominant Italian sprinter), and then took his first win of the season in February's Volta a la Communitat Valenciana, four seconds ahead of the peloton, led home by Napolitano. In March, Bennati was due to be the team's leader for the important races. He probably was not at his best form when he started the Tour of Flanders, and he had to drop out. He was then unable to start the Gent–Wevelgem race. Ten days later, however, a fully recovered Bennati won the final stage of the Giro del Trentino, won overall by teammate Cunego. The next week, he competed in the Tour de Romandie, where Robbie McEwen showed that Bennati was not quite at the top level.

The Lampre team for the Giro d'Italia was again built around the overall competition, and Bennati was not included. Instead, he participated in the Volta a Catalunya, winning the final stage ahead of Erik Zabel. In early June, he outsprinted his two breakaway companions to win the Memorial Marco Pantani. Although he could only manage 2nd and 3rd places in the Tour of Switzerland, he did wear the leader's jersey for one day and won the points jersey. July brought Bennati to his first Tour de France; he was among the top ten finishers in eight stages, including a 2nd place behind McEwen. He dropped out after a fall during the 16th stage; he was third in the points jersey competition at the time. Two months later, Bennati returned to the Tour of Poland, where he won two stages and wore the leader's jersey for two days.

The following weekend, he won two more races: the GP Citta di Misano-Adriatico and the Gran Premio Industria e Commercio di Prato, but was not chosen for the Italian UCI Road World Championships team, as selector Franco Ballerini opted to do without any sprinters. Although his result in the sprinters' classic, Paris–Tours, was disappointing (37th), Bennati ended his season with a victory at the Giro del Piemonte. This brought him to a total of 9 victories in 2006, but he dropped to 87th place in the Pro Tour standings – largely due to his absence from the spring classics due to illness.

2007 season

Bennati spent much of his off-season training in the Canary Islands (with Daniele Righi, Giuliano Figueras, Caudio Corioni, and Mauro Santambrogio) and began the 2007 racing season with two wins in February. In the Tour Méditerranéean he won one stage, with strong support from his teammate Alessandro Ballan, had two 2nd places – marginally beaten in one stage by Mirco Lorenzetto – and won the points jersey. After a fourth place at the Trofeo Laigueglia, Bennati outsprinted Alessandro Petacchi for three wins in the Volta a la Communidat Valenciana. Unlike previous years, Bennati did not compete in Tirreno–Adriatico, choosing to ride Paris–Nice instead, where he had some high finishes but no victories. Once again, he was stricken by illness just prior to Milan–San Remo, where he finished 26th, and the Grand Prix E3 was a disappointment for the same reason.

Bennati's form improved in the beginning of April, where he won one stage of the Dreidaagse De Panne. In the Tour of Flanders, he worked hard for Ballan, who won in a sprint ahead of Leif Hoste. Although he was one of the favorites for the mid-week classic Gent–Wevelgem, Bennati had to withdraw because of a fever and intestinal difficulties. He started Paris–Roubaix but did not make it to the finish. His troubles continued into May; Bennati had to drop out of the Volta a Catalunya, though he did manage a third place in one stage. In the Tour of Switzerland he recovered his health and won the points jersey; although he had no stage victories, he had a second place in the prologue, behind Fabian Cancellara, and second places in two other stages as well, behind Erik Zabel and Robbie McEwen respectively. A few days later, Bennati took 6th place in the Italian National Road Race Championships.

In July, Bennati rode in the Tour de France for the second time; he now had enough stature that his goals of winning a stage and competing for the points jersey were considered reasonable. As his team had no rider for the overall standings, he could count on help from his teammates Ballan, Napolitano, and Corioni. However, he fell in the last kilometer of the second stage and was not able to unleash his sprint until he had recovered somewhat from his injuries. In the fifth stage, he finished 3rd, behind Filippo Pozzato and Óscar Freire. There followed a 6th place, a 4th place, some unsuccessful breakaways, and then, after the last mountain stages, Bennati won twice, including the prestigious final stage on the Champs-Elysees. On the strength of his successes, he was named the leader of the Lampre team for the Vattenfall Cyclassics race, but watched as his teammate Ballan took off from the peloton and held on to win.

In September, Bennati raced in his second Grand Tour of the season, the 2007 Vuelta a España. He won the first stage ahead of Freire and Petacchi, and wore the leader's jersey for a day, losing it after a fall two kilometers from the finish of the second stage. After two second places, he came into his own during the final week, just as he had in the Tour de France: Bennati won the 17th stage and then the final stage in Madrid, taking the leadership in the contest for the points jersey on the final day of the race. This victory, his tenth of 2007, marked the end of Bennati's season. Although he had been scheduled to compete in the Monte Paschi Eroica and Paris–Tours, he was found to have a broken wrist that ruled out any more racing.

During the final week of the Vuelta a España, Bennati had signed a two-year contract with a new team: Liquigas. Claudio Corioni and Enrico Franzoi, valuable teammates who formed an important part of his leadout train, also signed for Liquigas.

2008–10: Liquigas

2008 season

Bennati at the 2008 Philadelphia International Championship.

The move to Liquigas brought up some potential frictions: they now had two stars, Bennati and Filippo Pozzato, whose primary targets for the year would be similar. Any conflict in their spring racing goals disappeared, however, with Bennati's knee injury – a slight patellar chondropathy in the left knee, associated with inflammation of the lateral ligament – keeping him out of action until the end of April. He did not finish his first race back (the Giro d'Oro, but in his next race, the Giro del Trentino, he took 17th in the opening time trial but did not figure in any of the stage finishes. The Tour de Romandie opened with a very short prologue, where Bennati took second behind Mark Cavendish. He also took second behind Robbie McEwen in the first sprint finish, showing that he was coming back into form. This was confirmed with a victory in the final stage, giving him first place in the points classification.

The 2008 Giro d'Italia was a success for Bennati, and was marked by a series of battles with Cavendish. Bennati won the third stage, into Milazzo; the following day, Cavendish won the stage to Lungomare, his first Grand Tour win. The next sprinters' stage was the ninth; Bennati won, by a whisker, over Paolo Bettini, who was racing his final Giro d'Italia. Bennati also won the 12th stage, with a narrow margin over Cavendish; the order was reversed the following day. His three stage victories in a Giro with few stages suitable for sprinters also gave Bennati the points jersey. However, Bennati paid a price for the points jersey: the long pull in cold weather over the Mortirolo Pass caused an inflammation of Bennati's left Achilles tendon, the same leg as the knee injury.

He did not return to competition until August, at the Eneco Tour. There he was second to Tom Boonen in the second stage before winning the third stage and taking the leader's jersey for a day. He was dropped in the fourth stage, finishing in 88th place 22 seconds behind Boonen and losing the lead in the GC to André Greipel. Bennati then dropped out of the Eneco Tour and proceeded to the Vuelta a España in good form – where Pozzato was also a team leader. The Liquigas team won the first stage, a team time trial, with Pozzato crossing the line first and donning the leader's jersey. Bennati served as a domestique for Pozzato during the second stage, but when Pozzato did not retain the leader's jersey he was able to ride for himself. He was 2nd to Boonen the following day, and then won the fourth stage, ahead of Boonen but dropped out after the 9th stage. Bennati was not named to the Italian team for the UCI Road World Championships, and his bad luck in Paris–Tours, the sprinters’ classic, continued; he finished 8th in a race won by Philippe Gilbert. However, Bennati won his final race of the year, the Giro del Piemonte; it was his second victory in this race, which he also won in 2006.

2011–12: Leopard Trek

At the Vuelta a España, Bennati took his first win of the 2012 season in a very close finish on stage 18, edging Team Sky's sprinter Ben Swift. He dedicated his victory to the memory of Wouter Weylandt and of his grandfather.[6] Bennati left RadioShack–Nissan at the end of the 2012 season, and joined Bjarne Riis' Saxo–Tinkoff on a two-year contract from the 2013 season onwards.[7]

2013–16: Saxo–Tinkoff

On Saxo–Tinkoff, Bennati managed to be a part of the team for the 2013 Tour de France, even though it was highly occupied by riders like Alberto Contador, Nicolas Roche, Michael Rogers and Roman Kreuziger. His goal for the Tour de France was not to win a stage, but to help Contador to get the overall victory.

Major results

2001
10th Road race, UCI Under-23 Road World Championships
2002 (2 pro wins)
1st Stage 1b Tour of Austria
1st Stage 5 Regio-Tour
3rd Gran Premio Nobili Rubinetterie
2003 (2)
1st Stage 3 Tour de Pologne
1st Stage 5 Tour Méditerranéen
4th Giro di Toscana
2004
8th Trofeo Manacor
2005 (6)
1st Giro di Toscana
Deutschland Tour
1st Points classification
1st Stages 3, 5 & 9
Tour de Pologne
1st Stages 2 & 4
2nd Giro della Romagna
2nd Paris–Tours
3rd Gent–Wevelgem
4th GP Ouest–France
5th Giro della Provincia di Lucca
5th Coppa Placci
6th Gran Premio della Costa Etruschi
2006 (8)
1st Giro del Piemonte
1st Gran Premio Città di Misano – Adriatico
1st Gran Premio Industria e Commercio di Prato
1st Mercatone Uno-Memorial Pantani
Tour de Pologne
1st Stages 2 & 4
1st Stage 7 Volta a Catalunya
1st Stage 5 Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana
1st Stage 4 Giro del Trentino
1st Points classification, Tour de Suisse
2nd Gran Premio della Costa Etruschi
2007 (10)
Tour de France
1st Stages 17 & 20
Vuelta a España
1st Points classification
1st Stages 1, 17 & 21
Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana
1st Points classification
1st Stages 1, 3 & 5
1st Stage 2 Tour Méditerranéen
1st Points classification, Tour de Suisse
3rd Gran Premio della Costa Etruschi
4th Trofeo Laigueglia
9th Overall Three Days of De Panne
1st Points classification
1st Stage 1
2008 (7)
1st Giro del Piemonte
Giro d'Italia
1st Points classification
1st Stages 3, 9 & 12
Vuelta a España
1st Stages 1 (TTT) & 4
Tour de Romandie
1st Points classification
1st Stage 5
1st Stage 3 Eneco Tour
8th Paris–Tours
2009 (4)
1st Overall Giro di Sardegna
1st Stage 4
Vuelta a Mallorca
1st Trofeo Inca
4th Trofeo Cala Millor
6th Milan–San Remo
7th Vattenfall Cyclassics
10th Overall Giro della Provincia di Grosseto
1st Stage 1
2010 (3)
1st Giro di Toscana
1st Stage 3 Tirreno–Adriatico
5th Overall Tour of Oman
1st Stage 2
5th Milan–San Remo
5th Coppa Bernocchi
6th Vattenfall Cyclassics
2011 (6)
Circuit de la Sarthe
1st Points classification
1st Stages 1, 3 (ITT) & 5
Vuelta a España
1st Stages 1 (TTT) & 20
1st Stage 3 Tour de Wallonie
1st Stage 8 Tour of Austria
2nd Overall Danmark Rundt
2nd Gent–Wevelgem
3rd Overall Tour of Qatar
7th Giro del Piemonte
10th Gran Premio Industria e Commercio di Prato
2012 (1)
1st Stage 18 Vuelta a España
5th Trofeo Palma de Mallorca
6th Gent–Wevelgem
7th Gran Piemonte
10th Milan–San Remo
2013
2nd Gran Premio Nobili Rubinetterie
5th GP Ouest–France
2015 (1)
1st Gran Premio Industria e Commercio di Prato
3rd Time trial, National Road Championships
7th Gran Piemonte
2016 (3)
1st Overall Giro di Toscana
Danmark Rundt
1st Points classification
1st Stage 1
1st Stage 1 Vuelta a Andalucía
3rd Gran Piemonte
8th Overall Dubai Tour
2017
5th Overall Circuit de la Sarthe
2018
7th Trofeo Campos, Porreres, Felanitx, Ses Salines
2019
4th Overall Vuelta a Castilla y León

Grand Tour general classification results timeline

Source:[8]

Grand Tour 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Giro d'Italia — DNF DNF — — — 70 — — — DNF DNF — — — DNF —
Tour de France — — — — DNF 74 — 132 — — — 107 96 DNF — 104 104
Vuelta a España DNF — — — — 63 DNF 84 83 111 144 — 108 131 107 — 133

Classics results timeline

Monument 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Milan–San Remo — 65 — 28 — 26 — 6 5 13 10 28 18 DNF DNF 14 91 144
Tour of Flanders — DNF — 53 — 19 — DNF DNF — 94 DNF DNF — — — — —
Paris–Roubaix — DNF — DNF — DNF — — — — 86 — — — — 41 — DNF
Liège–Bastogne–Liège Did not contest during career
Giro di Lombardia — — — — — — — — — — — — — DNF — — — —
Classic 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Strade Bianche Race did not exist — — 11 — DNF 11 — 51 61 54 — DNF —
Gent–Wevelgem — DNF — 3 — DNF — — 26 2 6 DNF 18 — — 24 DNF —
Hamburg Cyclassics 93 82 — DNF 55 73 — 7 6 — — 56 — — — — — —
GP Ouest-France — — — 4 DNF — — 18 — — — 5 — — — 21 — —
Paris–Tours 101 — — 2 37 — 8 — 42 — — — — — — — — —
Legend
— Did not compete
DNF Did not finish

Notes

  1. ^ "Movistar Team launches 2019 season with highest hopes". Telefónica. Telefónica, S.A. 18 December 2018. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  2. ^ a b Long, Jonny (19 November 2019). "Daniele Bennati retires due to back pain after 18 years as a professional". Cycling Weekly. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  3. ^ Daniele Bennati, Lampre-Fondital: A winning start Archived 4 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ Jeff Jones (19 September 2002). "Petacchi ascends the throne". Cycling News. Future Publishing Limited. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
  5. ^ Kristy Scrymgeour (10 September 2005). "UCI doping news". Cycling News. Future Publishing Limited. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
  6. ^ "Bennati sprints to photo-finish victory in Valladolid". Cycling News. Future Publishing Limited. 6 September 2012. Archived from the original on 8 September 2012. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
  7. ^ "Bennati joins Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank". Cycling News. Future Publishing Limited. 14 September 2012. Retrieved 14 September 2012.
  8. ^ "Daniele Bennati". Procyclingstats. Stephan van der Zwan. Retrieved 12 July 2019.

Media related to Daniele Bennati at Wikimedia Commons

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