Cycling: Kiwi George Bennett 13th at Vuelta a Burgos, as racing returns from COVID-19

George Bennett in action
George Bennett in action Photo credit: Photosport

Kiwi George Bennett has finished 13th on the opening stage of the Vuelta a Burgos - the first men's cycle event after a four-month COVID-19 hiatus.

Austrian Felix Grossschartner surged past the rest of the field on the final climb to win the first stage of the five-day tour in Spain.

Bennett, who is an outside chance of a podium with several climbs scheduled, lost team-mate Gijs Leemreize, who was forced to drop out of the stage with a finger injury suffered in a horror crash midway through the day. 

"Gijs is in the hospital, where the plastic surgeon will restore his damaged fingertip in the best possible way tonight," the Jumbo-Visma team have tweeted.

Team Israel Start-Up Nation suffered a setback before the start of the race as they withdrew two riders due to coronavirus concerns.

Three other New Zealanders - Finn Fisher-Black, Patrick Bevin and Shane Archibold - are on the road with Bennett in Spain.