Team Bahrain Victorious star Phil Bauhaus came just short of clinching a fantastic victory yesterday in the fourth stage of the Tour Down Under in Australia.
The 157.2-kilometre leg, which was the longest day of the race, saw a competitive field of fast men battle it out on the way to the finish at Victor Harbor.
The stage concluded with a thrilling bunch sprint on the Fleurieu Peninsula, where Bauhaus claimed a strong second place behind Bryan Coquard of Cofidis team in a tight finish. Jhonatan Narvaez of UAE Team Emirates-XRG completed the podium in third place.
Bahrain Victorious showcased their teamwork in yesterday’s stage. In the final 10 kilometres, Afonso Eulalio played an active role at the front, urging teams to chase down breakaways. Within the peloton, Eulalio, along with Robert Stannard, worked to keep Bauhaus positioned ahead, ensuring he was ready for the sprint finale.
Bauhaus timed his effort well before launching his sprint in the final 50 metres. Despite his strong effort, Coquard edged him out, leaving Bauhaus as the runner-up. The result demonstrated Bauhaus’s good form and his readiness to challenge for his first victory of 2025.
“I did quite okay, but I was also quite on the limit,” said Bauhaus. “I think for me it was already a step forward to be in that group. I think, in the end, Coquard was a little bit fresher than I was. He is a really good rider in a reduced sprint.
“Maybe he suffered a bit less so he has more energy for the sprint. I tried my best. I came close in the end, but I need to say he was a bit stronger than me.”
Bauhaus also commented on the challenges of the day: “It was a pretty easy day, a bit stressful with the wind,” he said. “I knew the final for me was super hard, so I knew I needed to relax as long as possible and spend the minimum amount of energy.
“The team, especially Roman [Ermakov], did a good job positioning me, Nikias (Arndt) and Robert into the last climb. Then I went around 15th place into the climb, like the second row of the bunch.
“They set a really hard pace for me. The legs felt super sore, I was super in pain on the climb, but for me I felt good. So I could be on top being in the second small group with 20 or 30 guys.”
Looking ahead, Bauhaus is optimistic about the remaining two stages today and tomorrow. “We have another sprint in Adelaide, which I think will be super hot,” he said. “But we saw today that my legs are good. The team was doing good. I hope to be again on the podium and perfectly one step higher.”
Following the race’s fourth stage, Eulalio was their best-ranked rider on the general classification for the yellow jersey in 17th and Bauhaus rose 11 places to fifth on the points standings for the green jersey.
Today’s fifth and penultimate stage will begin at McLaren Vale and end at Willunga Hill.
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