RIYADH: German Phil Bauhaus grabbed the overall lead of the Saudi Tour on Thursday with victory in a bunch sprint at the end of the third stage in Riyadh.
The 25-year-old was given an excellent lead-out by Bahrain-McLaren teammates Heinrich Haussler and Mark Cavendish before pipping Reinardt Janse van Rensburg on the line after the 119km ride from King Saud University to Al-Bujairi..
Bauhaus now leads former pace-setter Rui Costa by three seconds in the overall standings with two stages remaining.
Friday’s fourth stage is a hilly 137km run from Wadi Namar Park in Riyadh and King Saud University in Al-Muzahimiyah.
The final stage, on Saturday, will begin at Princess Nourah Bint Abdul Rahman University and cover 144 km before finishing at Al-Masmak Fort.
A total of 126 contestants in 18 international teams are competing in the 760-km, five-stage race.
The race has been organized by the General Sport Authority, in coordination with the Saudi Cycling Federation, under the patronage of international sports cycling governing body Union Cycliste Internationale, as part of the Kingdom’s Quality of Life Program 2020.
Saudi Tour third-stage results on Thursday:
1. Phil Bauhaus (GER/BAH) 119km in 2hrs 48min 27sec,
2. Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg (RSA/NTT) s.t.,
3. Youcef Reguigui (ALG/TER) s.t.,
4. Carlos Barbero Cuesta (ESP/MOV) s.t.,
5. Nacer Bouhanni (FRA/ARK) s.t.
Overall standings
1. Phil Bauhaus (GER/BAH) 11hrs 12min 56sec,
2. Rui Costa (POR/UAE) at 03sec,
3. Nacer Bouhanni (FRA/ARK) 08sec,
4. Youcef Reguigui (ALG/TER) 12sec,
5. Heinrich Haussler (AUS/BAH) 13sec
