BAUHAUS SECOND ON STAGE 5 OF VOLTA CATALUNYA WHILE MOHORIC TAKES 4TH AT E3 SAXO BANK CLASSIC
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| Phil Bauhaus took the points jersey after finishing second on the final opportunity for the sprinters at this year’s Volta a Catalunya. While in Belgium, Matej Mohoric just missed out on the podium finishing 4th at the E3 Saxo Classic. |
| Stage 5 of Catalunya was 202.6km, from La Pobla de Segur to Vilanova i la Geltrú, and the longest of this edition of the race. A small breakaway was allowed to go up the road with a gap of 5 minutes, but the peloton controlled the gap, with Pernsteiner helping the other sprint teams in contention. |
| A technical final 3 km with headwinds and roundabouts required excellent positioning from Bauhaus. Bauhaus found a gap, but it was too late, as Vernon (Quick-Step) found the gap earlier and pipped Phil to the line. |
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| Phil Bauhaus: ”Today was an expected bunch sprint, and we took control with Hermann at the start and later with Santi. Our climber team did more than I could expect for a sprint day. |
| It was a technical run-in with many roundabouts and a crash in the last km with a headwind. I tried to stay calm, and it was hard to decide whether to spend energy moving up or staying at the back and finding a gap. In the end, I found a gap, which was a bit too late. My sprint was still pretty good, but unfortunately, it was only enough for second again.” |
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| In Belgium, big champions were lining up at the start of the WorldTour one-day race E3 Saxo Bank Classic, also known as the “mini Flanders”, looking for a prestigious win after battling on the twisting, narrow, and cobbled route, featuring 17 hellingen (hills). |
| It was not easy for the breakaway to form, with several attempts since the beginning. A 7-man group eventually managed to get away but did not have an easy time with the race-favourite riders teams pushing behind. After the Taaienberg climbs, an acceleration from the favourites, including Matej Mohorič, split the peloton and closed the gap to the breakaway. |
| The decisive move happened on the Paterberg when Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) attacked, and only his teammate Laporte could follow him. The duo steadily increased the gap to the chasers, including Matej Mohorič, finishing in triumph with a 1-2 in Harelbeke. |
Behind them, the reduced chasing group sprinted for third place on the podium, and Mohorič managed to finish in 4th place.
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| Matej Mohorič: “I was feeling well, and the aim was to try to take a victory today, but the attackers were too strong. We gave the maximum in chasing, and it was not enough to close the gap as the duo in front kept on pushing. This race suited me more than the upcoming Gent-Wevelgem, but I’m also looking forward to another good result there”. |
| (All pictures can be used for editorial and non-commercial usages only and are copyright @Sprintcycling @TeamBahrainVictorious) |
