Abu Dhabi Tour: Phil Bauhaus wins Stage 3 as Elia Viviani retains lead

German cyclist Bauhaus comes out on top after photo finish required to see who had prevailed.

Team Sunweb's German rider Phil Bauhaus, third left in centre, celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win Stage 3 of the Abu Dhabi Tour. Giuseppe Cacace / Abu Dhabi

Phil Bauhaus of Team Sunweb edged out Katusha-Alpecin rider Marcel Kittel and Pascal Ackerman of Bora-hansgrohe in a photo finish to take stage 3 of the Abu Dhabi Tour on Friday.

The three Germans all pushed for the victory in the final throes of the stage, but it was Bauhaus who prevailed.

Elia Viviani the Quick-Step Floors Italian rider was fourth and retained the overall lead from the UAE Team Emirates's rider Norwegian Alexander Kristoff, who finished eighth in the 133-kilometre stage.

“To expect to win is difficult,” said Bauhaus in a television interview soon after taking the stage victory starting from The Nation Towers and finishing across the road at the Corniche Breakwater.

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Read more:

Elia Viviani maintains fine UAE form to claim Stage 2 victory

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“I knew that I was going well at home and my goal was to take a podium or a win and I am super happy that I was able to do it. It’s really nice. We have a super strong team and I am really happy that it worked out here."

Five riders flashed past the winning line and it required a re-look at the photo to separate them.

Bauhaus prevailed by the narrowest of margins to give Team Sunweb their first win of the season.

Viviani said: “We came out of the last corner at the front. But in this Abu Dhabi Tour the wind is always a factor.

“It was another head wind sprint. Bauhaus had the strength to come from the back. Sometimes we win, sometimes we lose, we have to accept it. However, I'm happy with my team again today.”

A four-man group was away for the first half of the stage, but things stayed together after that.

The stage concluded the three flat stages of the five-day WorldTour race. The riders will go into the time trial on Saturday before completing the stage on Sunday at Jebel Hafeet in Al Ain.

Third stage results:

1. Phil Bauhaus (GER) 3hrs 02mins 55secs

2. Marcel Kittel (GER) s.t.

3. Pascal Ackermann (GER) s.t.

4. Elia Viviani (AUS) s.t.

5. Caleb Ewan (AUS) s.t.

6. Phil Bauhaus (GER) s.t.

7. Alexander Kristoff (NOR) s.t.

8. Niccolo Bonifazzio (ITA) s.t.

9. Rudy Barbier (FRA) s.t.

10. Mark Renshaw (AUS) s.t.

General Classification after third stage:

1. Elia Viviani (ITA) 11:06:36

2. Alexander Kristoff (NOR) +0.03

3. Phil Bauhaus (GER) + 0.03

4. Pascal Ackerman (GER) + 0.05

5. Danny van Poppel (NLD) + 0.07