CYCLING

Bauer looks to kick-start exciting year with cycling success in Napier

By Sports Media NZ

A re-energized Jack Bauer is motivated for success in his first outing in the colours of the much vaunted Quick-Step Floors team in the New Zealand Road Cycling Championships in Napier this weekend.

The 31-year-old from Golden Bay will chase his second national title to spark his move to the world’s fourth ranked professional team, as 130 entrants chase glory in Napier starting with time trials on Friday, the women’s road race on Saturday and men on Sunday.

Five World Tour riders in Bauer, Shane Archbold (Bora Hansgrohe), George Bennett (LottoNL-Jumbo), Sam Bewley (Orica-Scott) and Tom Scully (Cannondale-Drapac) will compete along with defending champion Jason Christie, national criterium champion Regan Gough and Tour of Southland winner Aaron Gate.

There are a number of young Kiwi professionals led by 2016 rider of the year Dion Smith and two world champions from other disciplines in under-23 mountain bike world champion Sam Gaze and multi world and Olympic rowing star Hamish Bond.

“I’m certainly not coming to Napier to make up the numbers. While I am far from my top form and have not got a lot of miles in the legs, I am still in reasonable shape and hope the form from late in the year will carry me over,” Bauer said.

“This year is a big one and an important one for me for sure. I am really excited at the prospects and at the same time motivated to do well.

“Quick-Step is a premier team who are used to winning the biggest races and so there will also be expectations on all of us to perform. That motivation drives me for sure and I relish the prospect ahead.”

Bauer spent five years riding for Garmin Sharp through all its versions to the current Cannondale Pro Cycling. But after nearly a year in recovery after breaking his leg in 2015, Bauer was unable to push back into the top line-up, although enjoyed stage wins in the Czech Tour and Tour of Britain.

“I want to ride for a team that wants me and one in which there are opportunities to further myself.
Quick-Step had some riders leaving which presented an opportunity for me and so far it is exciting. They are just a much bigger machine in every facet of the sport and accordingly they want and expect results.”
 
Jack Bauer winning the national road cycling title in 2010 from Hayden Roulston and Julian Dean in Christchurch. Credit: Bruce Wilson

The Belgium-based team was formed in 2003 as a merger from Mapei-Quick Step which disbanded after nine years. In 2016 they won the world team time trial, three national championships and nine stages in the Grand Tours among a host of stage wins.

They boast a powerful line-up including former world champions Tom Boonen and Philippe Gilbert with Bauer to take up a new role as one of the lead-out train for star sprinter Marcel Kittel.

Bauer is excited about racing on a Napier course he has heard much about.

“I rode in the championships there in 2008 but that was out in the country. While the initial loop is out in that area, I’m excited to race in the loops around the central city. I’ve heard so much about how good this course is.”

The championships begin with the time trial on a course around the Church Road Winery on Friday with the elite and under-23 women competing over 20kms and the elite and under-23 men over 40kms.

The elite women’s race on Saturday, which includes a separate division for under-23 for the first time, is 112kms with an initial 61km circuit around the Puketapu area near Flaxmere followed by four full laps of a 13km course including the famed Napier Hill climb.

The elite and under-23 men compete over 169kms on Sunday, with 87kms of the country loop and seven laps of the inner city course with the finish on the Napier foreshore.

Details: www.elitenationals.co.nz
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