photo credits @ Abu Dhabi Tour
Phil Bauhaus (Team Sunweb) edged out Marcel Kittel (Team Katusha-Alpecin) during an exciting sprint finale to claim stage 3 of the Abu Dhabi Tour today.
“I knew I was going well at home and my goal was to take a podium or a win.”
“I am super happy that I was able to do it”, said Bauhaus after taking the first victory for the team this season.
Meanwhile, Elia Viviani of Quick-Step Floors retained his grip on the leader’s jersey with an overall time of 11:06:36, three seconds ahead of Alexander Kristoff (UAE Team Emirates) and stage winner Bauhaus.
Race Highlights
A small breakaway group containing Marco Maronese (Bardiani CSF), Sergey Firsanov (Gazprom-Rusvelo), Pierre Rolland (EF Education First-Drapac) and Sam Brand (Team Novo Nordisk), animated the start of today’s 133 kilometer flat route around the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
Despite a valiant effort to remain out front, the quartet was eventually reined in with 53 kilometers to go, with Rolland being the last of the escapees to get swept up by a Bardiani led peloton.
With 44.5 kilometer still to go, the field split, during which time Alexander Kristoff was caught-up in crash when the Norwegian rider fell navigating his way through one of the roundabouts.
The peloton eventually came back together and remained intact until the finale, while each team jostled their respective sprinter into position during the final lead-in to the finish.
Luka Mezgec (Mitchelton-Scott) led the head of the peloton around the final corners in hopes of setting up his teammate Caleb Ewan, who was the first rider to surge.
But, his acceleration was quickly matched by his rivals, which unfolded into a photo finish that had to be decided by a jury.
Stage three results
1. Phil Bauhaus (Team Sunweb, Germany) 3:02:55 2. Marcel Kittel (Katusha-Alpecin, Germany) 3. Pascal Ackermann (Bora-Hansgrohe, Germany) 4. Elia Viviani (Quick-Step Floors, Italy) 5. Caleb Ewan (Mitchelton-Scott, Australia) 6. AndrŽ Greipel (Lotto Soudal, Germany) 7. Rudy Barbier (AG2R La Mondiale, France) 8. Alexander Kristoff (UAE Team Emirates, Norway) 9. Danny van Poppel (LottoNL-Jumbo, Netherlands) 10. Andrea Guardini (Bardiani CSF, Italy)
General classification
1. Elia Viviani (Quick-Step Floors, Italy) 11:06:36 2. Alexander Kristoff (UAE Team Emirates, Norway) +03″ 3. Phil Bauhaus (Team Sunweb, Germany) 4. Pascal Ackermann (Bora-Hansgrohe, Germany) +05″ 5. Danny van Poppel (LottoNL-Jumbo, Netherlands) +07″ 6. Marcel Kittel (Katusha-Alpecin, Germany) 7. Caleb Ewan (Mitchelton-Scott, Australia) +09″ 8. Alejandro Valverde (Movistar Team, Spain) +10″ 9. Toms Skujins (Trek-Segafredo, Latvia) 10. Alessandro Tonelli (Bardiani CSF, Italy)
You must be logged in to post a comment.
