BAUHAUS SPRINTS TO SECOND IN NÎMES

TDT | Manama 

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Phil Bauhaus delivered his strongest sprint performance at this year’s Tour de France, securing second place on Stage 16. Apart from a relegation on Stage 5, the German sprinter has consistently placed in the top ten on all stages contested by the fast men.

The 188.6 km pan-flat stage, held in scorching hot conditions, started on the South Coast of France in Gruissan. Despite the flat terrain, the stage was challenging with the potential for strong winds and echelons, keeping the GC teams vigilant and nervous throughout the day.

As the peloton navigated the open roads, tension rose, but it remained intact throughout the stage. In the final kilometres into Nîmes, the sprint teams took control at the front.

Jack Haig put in a tremendous effort throughout the day, keeping the team upfront and out of trouble. Matej Mohoric then led the team into the tricky final 5 km, where positioning was crucial due to corners and roundabouts.

Finally, Nikias brought Phil into the final kilometre, where they successfully avoided a crash involving the green jersey, Biniam Girmay (Intermarché–Wanty).

Phil then perfectly positioned himself onto Jasper Philipsen’s(Alpecin) wheel but was unable to outpower the Belgian sprinter, finishing just behind him.

Despite missing out on a win at his second appearance at the Tour, Bauhaus was pleased with the result and the work of his teammates on a technical finish: “It makes it for me always easier, to follow wheels if there are corners or roundabouts.

Also our leader is technically good like Matej, I think everyone knows he’s good, and Nikias also. And so it makes it easier for us with our small leadout, so I am more than happy to give them finally a nice result.

This year I’m happy. Last year on that sprint I think I maybe could’ve done better (stage 3, 2023) and today this year, I mean first I need to say Philipsen was much faster, and also if you see my results, they were good but not like last year so I think maybe you need to go one step back and be happy with the podium.”

Sports Director Gorazd Štangelj is optimistic about the final stages, praising the team’s performance: “There was a lot of tension in the peloton due to the wind, but we knew it would be weaker at the end of the race, which was the case.

The boys, especially Jack did an amazing job, as we could see he was riding in the front for a long time and in the last 5km Matej, before Nikias.

I think this move helped them avoid the crash which was cruical for the sprint, and once this crash happened, Phil was already on the best wheel possible and did his best possible result.

We are happy there are no gaps, and it was great to see the Santiago perform well and be comfortable on a nervous stage such as today. It’s a great sign for his future.”