On the podium, come rain or shine

This week Team BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS is competing at two stage races: the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de Hongrie. Within two days, Jonathan Milan and Phil Bauhaus sprinted to 2nd places three times, adding more podium results to the team’s tally.

At the end of stage 2 of the Giro d'Italia, Jonathan Milan had given himself the greatest gift. Having been brought into a perfect position by teammate Andrea Pasqualon, the young Italian won the bunch sprint with an explosive acceleration. The next day he got dropped from the peloton in the topographically demanding stage 3, and at the end of stage 4, the breakaway remained up front all the way to the finish line. Featuring much less ascending and a flat finale, stages 5 and 6 looked like opportunities for sprinters again. On both days, TEAM BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS did a great job in piloting Jonathan Milan into a promising position in time for the bunch sprint.

On Wednesday, the finale was ridden in pouring rain, and the wet streets provoked some crashes. Jonathan Milan managed to avoid those, and just like on Sunday, it was up to Andrea Pasqualon to drop him off right behind the sprint train of Alpecin Deceuninck. But in Salerno, Kaden Groves proved too strong, so Milan had to settle for 2nd place. The following day the sun was shining bright again, but this time cobblestones and potholes caused some flats on the roads of Naples - and the fact that the last riders of the breakaway only got caught with 350 meters to go added to the frenzy. This time Jonathan Milan only got beaten by Mads Pedersen, but by finishing in 2nd, he solidified his hold on the maglia ciclamino for the leader in the points classification.

At the Tour de Hongrie, Team BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS is riding in support of Hermann Pernsteiner as its GC captain and Phil Bauhaus as its designated rider for bunch sprints. These two can rely on the support of a young team with riders such as Nicolo Buratti, Matevz Govekar, Ahmed Madan and Cameron Scott. As expected, the first two stages in Hungary were decided in bunch sprints. After having crossed the finish line in 4th place on Wednesday, Phil Bauhaus was aiming for a podium result in stage 2. The bunch sprint was contested in pouring rain, and indeed Phil was only beaten by reigning European champion Fabio Jakobsen. But by finishing in 2nd, he finished well ahead of many well-known sprinters and moved into the lead of the points classification as well.

106TH GIRO D’ITALIA, STAGE 5: ATRIPALDA - SALERNO, 171KM
1. Kaden Groves, AUS, in 4:30.19 hours
2. Jonathan Milan, ITA/TEAM BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS, st
3. Mads Pedersen, DEN, st

STAGE 6: NAPELS - NAPELS, 162KM
1. Mads Pedersen, DEN, in 3:44.45 hours
2. Jonathan Milan, ITA/TEAM BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS, st
3. Pascal Ackermann, GER, st

44TH TOUR DE HONGRIE, STAGE 2: ZALAEGERSZEG - KESZTHELY, 175.3KM
1. Fabio Jakobsen, NED, in 4:05.21 hours
2. Phil Bauhaus, GER/TEAM BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS, st
3. Vito Braet, BEL, st

Photos: Sprint Cycling Agency