CYCLING – ON the final sprint stage of the UAE Tour, Phil Bauhaus claimed the final step of the podium yesterday, with an impressive sprint at Abu Dhabi Breakwater, where he won back in 2018 at the Abu Dhabi Tour.
A race that attracts the best sprinters in the WorldTour and offers up four chances for sprinters across the seven stages saw Bauhaus place in the top 10 in all the stages.
On yesterday’s stage, the team were patient in leading the German into a better position to contest the sprint. During the sprint, Belgian Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step) continued to show impressive form and clinched his third stage at the UAE Tour.
Bauhaus was pleased with the improvement in the lead-out to get him on the podium and is hoping it boosts the team’s confidence for tomorrow’s battle in the GC on Jebel Hafeet to get Pello Bilbao on the overall podium.
“Every day we made improvement with our lead-out and today was the best team effort and I’m also happy I could bring a podium home. I mean, it was difficult to win here, and also, I have to say I was missing the speed a little bit in the end to have the kick for the sprint and was tired from the last few days,” said Bauhaus.
“But yes, I think we can be happy with the podium, I mean, Merlier was again the strongest today, and so I am happy to finish third. It’s also a good morale boost for tomorrow, as we have Pello in a good position for the GC, so I hope he can make a podium as well.”