Bauhaus claims first stage win of 2021 for Team Bahrain Victorious

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Team Bahrain Victorious rider Phil Bauhaus won the final stage of the Tour de la Provence in France with an impressive technical finish.

The event was the debut race in the 2021 season for the Bahraini outfit, founded by His Majesty the King’s Humanitarian Works and Youth Affairs representative and Supreme Council for Youth and Sports chairman His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

It is part of this year’s Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Europe Tour, which is under the UCI Continental Circuits series.

The final stage of 163.2 kilometres started in Avignon and saw a breakaway go off with four riders early on, only to be caught with two km to go.

The last few corners caused a frantic finish, as Heinrich Haussler took the lead for Bauhaus showing some impressive handling to keep the German up the front and out of trouble.

Bauhaus showed his power going past Ballerini as he kicked for the line and claimed the Team Bahrain Victorious’ first triumph in 2021.

Bauhaus was delighted with the win. He commented: “It was a super-fast final, and the team did really really well today and wanted this result really really bad. I went for it, and I’m happy I could pass the guys at the front. “I knew I needed to be in front with 600 metres to go, and then I was strong enough to finish it off.

It’s always good as a sprinter to win races. But I’m also happy for the team. It takes some pressure off us now we have that win. It gives us confidence for the next races.” Team Bahrain Victorious also took two top 10 finishes, with Wout Poels claiming fourth after his impressive display in stage three, and Jack Haig just behind in seventh.