The Nelson cyclist George Bennett is cursing himself despite finishing fourth on the latest stage of the Giro d'Italia.
Bennett has moved into ninth place overall after narrowly missing out on a podium finish on the 163 kilometre sixth stage to the top of Mount Etna in Sicily which was won by Colombia's Esteban Chaves.
Yates overtook Chaves in the final metres but sat up on the approach to the finish line and told his teammate to cross first after the Colombian had spent the whole day in the breakaway group.
George Bennett Photo: Supplied
Bennett's one minute eleven seconds behind the overall leader Simon Yates of England but believes that difference could be much less had he ridden a smarter race.
"I rode like an idiot. I attacked too much. I was too confident," he said.
"When Yates went I had to go (with him) but I had already gone three times before and I'm quite disappointed in myself.
"It was just me and (Italian rider Domenico) Pozzovivo attacking and we were stronger than them (Chaves and Yates)...well I don't know if we were, maybe they were smarter but they deserved to win," said Bennett.
Bennett said the first six days of the tour had been hectic but was pleased with the support he was getting from his teamates.
-RNZ
