Bauer confirmed for Tour de France
New Zealand’s Jack Bauer has been confirmed to ride in this year’s Tour de France by his Australian team Mitchelton-Scott.
The 33-year-old will take part in the three-week stage race for the fifth time in his career and ride in support of team leader Adam Yates.
The Tour begins on July 7, a week later than usual because of the Fifa World Cup and over the next few days teams will announce their eight-man teams.
Patrick Bevan, who rode the Tour for the first time last year, is on the short list for BMC Racing’s team and is likely to make it to the start line.
Dion Smith, who also rode in the race last year, is on the long list for Wanty-Groupe Gobert.
George Bennett, who finished eighth in the Giro d’Italia last month, is skipping the Tour de France and will ride in the final grand tour of the season in August, the Vuelta a Espana.
Bauer’s role on the Tour will be to guide Yates through the first half of the Tour when crosswinds and cobbles will be a factor, before the big mountains come, then Bauer will help him up the lower slopes of the long climbs.
Given that Mitchelton-Scott have a genuine chance of getting Yates onto the podium in Paris, it’s unlikely that Bauer will be given any opportunities to get into breaks and go for stage wins.
‘‘We are really excited by the strength and potential of the eight riders we’ve selected for this year’s Tour de France,’’ said Matt White, Mitchelton-Scott’s head sports director said.
‘‘We know the depth of the field and our ambitions are high, but
‘‘This year’s Tour de France is almost a race of two halves – the unpredictability of the first half and mountains of the second.’’
Matt White, Mitchelton-Scott’s head sports director
whatever happens I am confident in the group assembled and their ability to deliver our objectives across the full three weeks of racing.
‘‘Adam’s performance continues to improve in leaps and bounds.
‘‘He has had major setbacks this year and still his performances have been impressive to say the least.
‘‘We have complete faith and belief in his ability as our leader at the Tour de France.
‘‘This year’s Tour de France is almost a race of two halves – the unpredictability of the first half and mountains of the second.
‘‘We have a selected a diverse team, and one that can handle any situation that may be thrown in our path.
‘‘We know the strength of this team as a unit and it’s the first year we have been able to assemble such depth at both grand tours we have lined up in.
‘‘There have been some really tough decisions made this week, the toughest in our organisation’s history.
‘‘We have 12 riders who are ready to go.
‘‘But based on our performances this season we believe we have selected the best group who can deliver our objectives at the Tour de France next month.’’