Bauer targets national jersey
Jack Bauer dreams of wearing the colours of New Zealand at the Tour de France again next year.
It may be the very start of the new season but it is still an important time of the year for the Golden Bay cyclist, who has joined countryman Sam Bewley at Michelton-scott for 2018 and 2019.
The 32-year-old has arrived in New Zealand in tip-top shape ahead of the elite road national championships, which begin in Napier on January 5.
Bauer said his clear ambition is to win the road race, wanting to get his 2018 season off to the best possible start.
A win in the road race or time trial comes with a prize of being able to wear a specially designed New Zealand uniform on the World Tour and Bauer said that is the biggest lure.
‘‘I’ve worn the road jersey for a year before but it was really early on in my career. I wasn’t quite at the top of my game,’’ he said.
‘‘When it comes to racing these big international events, to put on the colours of New Zealand - the black and the white fern - that is something that is really special to me and it’s something in your career that you really hang on to.’’
Although Bauer won the time trial in 2017, his last victory in the road race was in 2010. ‘‘It’s been a while since I won something. It’s been a year, since the time trial this year, so it would be nice to get back on a podium.
‘‘It’s always good to start with a bang and get yourself on the right foot.’’
Following nationals, Bauer will turn his attention to the Tour Down Under and the Great Ocean Road Race.
They are two important races for his team, Michelton-scott, as they are the only races on the World Tour calendar that are staged in Australia.
‘‘It’s a little bit different going into the Tour this year with Michelton-scott because, as an Aussie team and a team that generally wins the race or wins most of the stages in the race, the pressure will possibly be a lot higher than it has been before, especially given their performance last year where Caleb Ewan dominated every sprint stage there was.’’