Bennati's rising sprint star status

Daniele Bennati is rising in the realm of sprinting superstars. The Tuscan of Lampre-Fondital knocked-out chief rival Alessandro Petacchi (Milram) three times in the Vuelta a la Comunidad Valenciana by winning stages one, three and the final, five.

Benna spoke with La Gazzetta dello Sport about his status and who he considers his biggest threats. "The future of the sprints is between me and Tom Boonen," the 26 year-old quipped.

"Age is on our side. Petacchi and [Robbie] McEwen are both over 30 years and I don't think they can improve. At the Vuelta Valenciana I demonstrated to have something more than Alessandro, and I hope to confirm my superiority in the upcoming races."

Benna will focus on the Paris-Nice as a lead-up to the jewel of his season, La Classicissima, Milano-Sanremo, March 24.