Money, time and points gone
Tour punishes German sprinter Phil Bauhaus
Phil Bauhaus from the Bahrain Victorious team continues to cause a stir at the Tour de France. On the fourth stage, the 28-year-old sprinted to third place. But a few hours after his arrival he is punished, which doesn’t affect his good mood.
The German professional cyclist Phil Bauhaus (Bocholt/Team Bahrain Victorious) was penalized three times after his third place in the mass sprint of the 4th Tour de France stage. The 28-year-old has to pay a fine of 500 Swiss francs (511 euros) for obstructing another driver, and all 50 classification points for the green jersey of the best sprinter will also be deducted. He also receives a 30 second time penalty for the overall ranking.
According to the tour management, Bauhaus illegally blocked the path of a competitor 1.8 kilometers before the finish of the stage between Dax and Nogaro on Tuesday on the Circuit Paul Armagnac motorsport course. Bauhaus sprinted across the line in third place behind the stage winner Jasper Philipsen (Belgium/Alpecin-Deceuninck) and the Australian Caleb Ewan (Lotto Dstny). Bauhaus was not set back.
Regardless, the mood at Bauhaus could hardly be better. Which is also due to his special relationship with Nikias Arndt. After the fourth stage, both were inseparable even when riding out on the roller. Next to each other, the two professional cyclists from the Bahrain Victorious team relaxed their tired legs and talked about their recent successful appearance at the 110th Tour de France.
“In the shape of his life”
“Nikias is my best friend,” said Bauhaus after sprinting to third place on the fourth stage of the Tour. For the second time in two days, the Bocholter raced into the top 3 – an impressive result for the 28-year-old tour debutant despite the penalty: “I think I’ve proven that I’m one of the best.”
Arndt has long been convinced of this. The 31-year-old has a variety of tasks in the team, including helping Bauhaus with sprint preparation. The blind understanding between the two is one of the secrets of success. “It also plays a role that you have someone with you in the final who you can trust 100 percent,” said Bauhaus.
The friendship has grown. They have driven for the same team (Sunweb) in the past. The duo has been reunited since the 2023 season. “With Phil you know what you have – or what you don’t have. He gives you a lot as a friend and teammate. He is very collegial, but also tells you when something is going stupid,” said Arndt: “We are coming along scary “We get along well together. It’s a very cool combination.”
Ideally, Arndt and Bauhaus want to toast a stage victory at some point on the Tour of France. Arndt has no doubts that this will happen: “Phil is in the shape of his life and has arrived among the world’s best. His legs are good, that’s clear to see.”
