Irish road race champion Sam Bennett (open in new tab) (Detunink-Quick Step) finished second to Caleb Yuan (open in new tab) (Lotto Soudal) on Friday's Tour Down Under stage 4 (open in new tab) The final straight to the Murray Bridge line was much shorter than expected, suggesting that he had timed his sprint incorrectly.

"Everyone did really well. It's just that the road book (a collection of stage information distributed by organizers at major races) said there were 300 meters to go from the last corner, but when we went out there was already a 150-meter sign," Bennett lamented.

"If the book had been right, I think we would have finished."

In a fast and hectic finale, Bennett again got a near-perfect lead out by his new Deceuninck-QuickStep team, but then accelerated early and allowed Ewan to come through and win.

"Morkov tried to wind me up. He said he had 300 meters to go, but I saw he already had 150 meters to go, so I went early. I didn't have the gear to keep pulling anymore, so Caleb passed me," said Bennett, who was able to hold off Yasper Philipsen (UAE Team Emirates).

Morkov, the Danish road race champion, seemed a bit more philosophical than his disappointed teammate.

"If you don't win, you can't call it a perfect lead-out," he said. But the team did a good job of preparing me in the last few kilometers and I was able to drive the way I wanted until the last corner."

"I was able to win the race,"

"I was able to win the race.

"I was a little surprised at how short it was coming out of the corners; I thought it would have been a good race, but it wasn't.

Despite the fact that the peloton was near the front when they had to pass a railroad crossing and a narrow chicane 1.5 km from the finish, Morkoff said he became aware of the confusion as the stage approached the end.

"I know it was confusing. I came here last week to check out this finish. It was one of the stages I was targeting in the race, so I knew the run-in well and I knew it was going to be a big mess. Thanks to the team we were able to hold the lead and get out of that kind of mess."

Bennett and Dečuninck-Quickstep will have one last chance for a second win on Saturday's fifth stage, from Glenelg to Victor Harbor.

"We know there's a hard climb before the final stage, but it's the same final stage we've had the last few years.

"Hopefully tomorrow will go well."