Sam Bennett sprints to victory in Vuelta stage 9 as Carapaz retains race lead

Bennett wins his second sprint coming from behind he outsprinted Ackermann and Thijssen on the run into Aguilar de Campoo

Sam Bennett took his second victory of the Vuelta a España 2020 on stage nine, in a contest of pure speed.

The peloton relished an easy sprint day with a low pace for most of the day, before the fight for the stage unfolded in the final 5km.

Pascal Ackermann (Bora-Hansgrohe) was the first sprinter to launch his effort inside the final 200m, but Bennett came from behind to raise his arms for the win.

Bennett (Deceuninck – Quick-Step) was followed across the line by Ackermann in second and Gerben Thijssen (Lotto-Soudal) in third.

Richard Carapaz (Ineos Grenadiers) finished safely in the bunch to hold into the race lead for another day.

VIDEO: 2020 La Vuelta Stage 9 Highlights

2020 La Vuelta Stage 9 Top 10

1 Sam Bennett (Irl) Deceuninck-Quickstep 3:39:55
2 Pascal Ackermann (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe
3 Gerben Thijssen (Bel) Lotto Soudal
4 Max Kanter (Ger) Team Sunweb
5 Jasper Philipsen (Bel) UAE Team Emirates
6 Jakub Mareczko (Ita) CCC Team
7 Alexis Renard (Fra) Israel Start-Up Nation
8 Jon Aberasturi Izaga (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA
9 Lorrenzo Manzin (Fra) Total Direct Energie
10 Robert Stannard (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott

2020 La Vuelta GC after Stage 9

1 Richard Carapaz (Ecu) Ineos Grenadiers 36:11:01
2 Primoz Roglic (Slo) Team Jumbo-Visma 0:00:13
3 Daniel Martin (Irl) Israel Start-Up Nation 0:00:28
4 Hugh Carthy (GBr) EF Pro Cycling 0:00:44
5 Enric Mas Nicolau (Spa) Movistar Team 0:01:54
6 Felix Grossschartner (Aut) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:03:28
7 Esteban Chaves (Col) Mitchelton-Scott
8 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar Team 0:03:35
9 Marc Soler (Spa) Movistar Team 0:03:40
10 Wout Poels (Ned) Bahrain McLaren 0:03:47