Bauer faces mad dash to race
Jack Bauer will go to hell and back just to make it to the Commonwealth Games.
New Zealand’s designated leader in the men’s road race faces a mad dash to reach the start line as he first must contest the ParisRoubaix, known as Hell of the North, tomorrow.
Once he completes the famous cobbled race – assuming he gets through unscathed – Bauer will catch a train to Paris, staying overnight before flying to Dubai and then Australia’s Gold Coast.
In total, Bauer will 17,7345km before lining up road race next Saturday.
Although it is far from ideal preparation, the Golden Bay rider said it was not mission impossible. If it was, he would not bother making such an arduous journey.
‘‘My first half of the year finishes in Paris-Roubaix on Sunday and cover in the from that point on I can focus completely on the Comm Games, which gives me a whole week so I’m physically ready for it. All I’ll need is a couple of days to adjust to the time zone. I think for a lot, maybe not everyone, but a lot who are coming for the road events it’s just what we will have to deal with, and it’s something we have to deal with constantly through the season.’’
Paris-Roubaix is one of the most chaotic races on the World Tour calendar. It is also one of the most famous thanks to the 29 different cobbled sections, which cause havoc for the riders.
‘‘In terms of unpredictability, crashes, mechanicals, multiple flat tyres, it is generally a case of who is standing at the end,’’ said Bauer, who will wrap up his hands to avoid blisters and cuts, and run with thicker and softer tyres.
‘‘We saw the course yesterday and rode 25 [cobbled] sectors of the 29, and it’s pretty muddy and pretty slippery. I’ve done four before and they have always been dry and kind to me. If that’s the case that it’s going to be wet then it’s going to be a matter of just trying to stay on two wheels. I’ve got my work cut out for me with the Comm Games in less than a week’s time.’’
Bauer will be the only World Tour rider in New Zealand’s sixman road race team, following Alex Frame’s late withdrawal just weeks out from the event. Other leading professionals, including George Bennett, Patrick Bevin, Sam Bewley and Tom Scully, were also unavailable for selection, leaving Shane Archbold, Hayden
James Oram, Jason mountainbiker Sam the support.
Bauer thought he too would be skipping the Commonwealth Games, believing that MicheltonScott would need him for the Amstel Gold Race in the Netherlands the next day. However, Cycling New Zealand was able to negotiate his release.
‘‘I discounted myself because my calendar was full,’’ he said. ‘‘I was literally racing the day after in Europe and I didn’t expect to be given the green light, and I didn’t feel it was my place to go ask for it. And being an Australian team I didn’t think they’d send one of the enemy home and fund him on his way to deny the Aussies another medal but the national federation organised a deal for me to head back for the week and the team have been really good about it.’’
At 32, Bauer acknowledged this McCormick, Christie and Gaze to provide will likely be his last Commonwealth Games and therefore his last shot at a gold medal. But although he will enter the race as New Zealand’s designated leader, he said he was not the only Kiwi capable of winning it.
‘‘Physically I rate myself to get a gold in the right conditions and that’s what I’m going to try and do. But in saying that you’ve got to be pretty fluid and ready for all situations on the road, and full credit to Cycling New Zealand that they have selected a really strong and capable lineup of riders. I’d say out of the six that are going we have at least four that I would say can medal or win out of a certain finale.’’
Oddly enough, one of his major rivals for the gold medal, Australia’s Mathew Hayman, is a team-mate of his at Michelton-Scott. Hayman will also line up at Paris-Roubaix, a race he won in 2016 six weeks after breaking his arm.
Let’s really make these the Friendly Games. Let’s try to get back to some of the invention and camaraderie that were there in the beginning.