Phil Bauhaus wins Abu Dhabi Tour Stage 3 and feels like he's finally joined cycling's elite

Matt Jones - Editor 20:32 23/02/2018
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  • Phil Bauhaus celebrates Stage 3 victory at the Abu Dhabi Tour.

    A huge, beaming smile started to adorn Phil Bauhaus’ face as he watched re-runs of his Stage 3 victory on big screens in the post-race press conference at the Abu Dhabi Tour, where yet another German sprint hero may well be emerging.

    The Team Sunweb rider trapped illustrious compatriots Marcel Kittel and Andre Greipel in his own web to win the final sprinter’s stage in the UAE capital, although the 23-year-old endured an agonising wait as race chiefs pored over footage to determine who had crossed the line first.

    Victory was eventually rewarded to the boy from Bocholt – he staved off a fantastic late surge from Kittel to win by less than the width of a tyre.

    It was his second WorldTour win following victory on Stage 5 at the Criterium du Dauphine last June. The 6-foot tall German is hardly short, but his triumph will help him stand tall with big name compatriots Kittel and Greipel – who finished sixth – and Bauhaus believes the win proves he truly belongs at the elite level.

    “It makes me really proud. Years ago I was watching Marcel sprinting at the Tour de France and other big names, and now I’m competing with them and beating them. It’s a really nice feeling to finally be at the top level on the WorldTour,” said Bauhaus, who received a double boost as victory saw him usurp LottoNL-Jumbo rider Danny van Poppel as the best young rider at the Tour.

    “When I crossed the line I knew it was close. I didn’t know if I’d won because Kittel came really fast from behind. I thought I was second but then they told me I’d won so it was really nice. It makes me proud to win with all these big names here.

    “I saw these guys sprinting when I was younger and now I get to compete with them so it’s great. It’s a big win for me. It’s one of the biggest. I’m happy but I hope to continue.”

    The Stage 3 finish at Big Flag was thrilling, with Bauhaus (3rd r) ousting Kittel (r) for victory.

    The Stage 3 finish at Big Flag was thrilling, with Bauhaus (3rd r) ousting Kittel (r) for victory.

    Bauhaus was born in the same year as two of the best young sprinters in cycling today – Quick-Step FloorsFernando Gaviria and Mitchelton-Scott’s Caleb Ewan. In fact all three were born within a month of each other.

    And while the two younger riders have really made an impact at the elite level, Bauhaus’ progress has been slower, although he feels this win could be a seminal one.

    “At the moment we have a lot of good sprinters from my era and in general,” said the man who’s first love was football before taking up cycling aged eight.

    “These two are the biggest names in my age but there will be new names and I’m happy I’m also there now.”

    Pascal Ackermann’s third place for Bora-Hansgrohe meant it was an all-German top three in Abu Dhabi, and Bauhaus admits more sprinting talents are coming through to continue the legacy established by Greipel and Kittel.

    He added: “I don’t know why Germany has so many good sprinters. We really have world class sprinters, we’ve had it in the past and also now. I don’t know if there’s a reason, I think we are just born with it.

    “Cycling is strong in Germany again. We had the Tour de France start in Dusseldorf last year and everyone could see it’s still there. What I think is missing a bit is a GC guy who can fight for Grand Tour wins.

    “But we are working also to have good climbers for the GC. Cycling is growing, definitely.”

    Of his own Grand Tour ambitions, Bauhaus is hopeful he will be in Sunweb’s plans for one of the three cycling spectacles this year.

    “For sure I have to go and be part of one,” he said.

    “The Tour de France will be really difficult but I’m just working on myself and then we will see for which one I get selected. It’s not important for me as others to be at the Tour. But it would be nice to be part of one.”

    Defeat to Bauhaus meant more misery for Kittel, meanwhile, who has yet to taste victory for new team Katusha-Alpecin, while the man who replaced him at Quick-Step – Elia Viviani – has already chalked up five wins.

    A photo finish shows just how marginal Bauhaus' win was.

    A photo finish shows just how marginal Bauhaus’ win was.

    He was not downbeat, however, despite coming so close on the Corniche, and still felt he had reason to celebrate with second place.

    “I think it’s a successful race, we were just a bit too late. It’s getting better,” said the 29-year-old.

    “I can say it’s progress and we can be proud of that. I’m not letting myself down and the team is very motivated every day and I have huge respect for the boys.

    “We want to go for the win and every time it feels like a defeat but you have to get up and go again and take the next chance.”

    Asked if he was nervous about his relative slump – Kittel won a joint record 14 times in men’s professional cycling last season – he said: “When I look at my watch it’s February. We still have seven months of the season to go and 70 races to go. There’s still a lot of chances for victories.

    “This is a development and we are taking time for ourselves. I’m enjoying the process although it’s sometimes disappointing. But it’s part of the sport and what we want to do to develop.”

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