Ireland’s Sam Bennett is off to a winning start with his new team, Quickstep.

The Carrick-on-Suir rider has taken victory in the first stage of this year’s Tour Down Under.

Bennett finished just ahead of Belgium’s Jasper Philipsen in a sprint finish and will take a four-second lead into stage two.

“It was definitely the work of the team that earned the win today,” said Bennett on the Tour Down Under website.

“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel the pressure coming to Deceuninck-Quick-Step and trying to get that first win.

“The guys did an absolutely fantastic job, kept me in a great position, and then executed the lead-out perfectly. Every one of them played a superb role today.”