Bauer optimistic about Kiwis’ chances on road
"We have potential in our small squad for at least a top-10 placing and that’s what we aim to go in and do." Jack Bauer
Jack Bauer’s best chance of a medal may have already past him by at the UCI Road World Championships but the experienced Kiwi cyclist still believes a top-10 finish is achievable in the men’s road race.
After he and his Quick-step Floors team-mates opened the world championships with a fourth placing in the team time trial, the 32-year-old from Golden Bay has now turned his attention to tomorrow night’s road race in Bergen, Norway.
Bauer will fly the New Zealand flag alongside Patrick Bevin and Dion Smith, two riders who joined him at the Tour de France earlier this year.
The trio have spent the past few days training together in Spain and Bauer said he was quietly optimistic about their chances.
‘‘This is a a massive event at the end of every season,’’ he said.
‘‘We are in good shape and all healthy and motivated. Over the next few days we’ll make our move to Norway and look to put something down results-wise on Sunday.
‘‘It’s hard to throw up a result or a best-case scenario but I think we have potential in our small squad for at least a top-10 placing and that’s what we aim to go in and do.’’
The last New Zealander to finish inside the top 10 in the men’s road race was Julian Dean in 2005.
This will be Bauer’s fifth time competing in the road race at the world championships and he is eager to make up for his previous efforts. Bauer did not finish in 2016 and 2013 and placed 86th in 2014 and 121st in 2011.
He has good reason to be confident this time though, coming in on the back of one of his most successful seasons as a professional after excelling in his leadout role with Quick-step Floors, helping Marcel Kittel obtain five stage wins at the Tour de France.
‘‘The road race at worlds is something I want to make up for this year, seeing I have never delivered in the event, and I don’t see why we shouldn’t given my shape at the moment and that of Patrick Bevin and Dion Smith’s.’’
Bauer was giving little away as to what the Kiwis’ gameplan will be or who will take up the role as leader, but considering the race is 267.5km long and finishes with 11 laps of a city circuit, their best chance of success is likely to come in a late breakaway.
‘‘I know the boys very well and I know their seasons, I’ve ridden alongside them all year, and I’m pretty sure I know who will be there in the thick of the action at the end. But I’d prefer to wait until the day to see how things pan out.’’
As for the team time trial, Bauer said it was disappointing to miss out on a medal, particularly as it was his last ride in the blue and white colours of Quickstep Floors.
Bauer will join Orica-scott on a two-year contract starting in 2018, linking up with countryman Sam Bewley.
‘‘It is something that Quickstep always target. They are very good at the discipline and it was an eye-opening experience seeing how they prepare and how much they invest into the race and the event. There was no bittersweetness about fourth, it was all bitter.
‘‘But that’s racing, we were beaten by a fair amount in fourth and there’s no question marks about it, we just didn’t quite have it on the day,’’ he said.