Bond strives for Commonwealth Games

Hamish Bond is returning to the scene of his first time trial hoping to stake his claim for Commonwealth Games selection.

The double Olympic Games rowing champion said he has more experience, knowledge and skill under his belt, after a year in the game, as he readies for the elite road national championships, in Napier on Friday.

Bond said he is hoping to better last year’s result when he finished third in the time trial, 1min 20sec behind eventual winner Jack Bauer.

‘‘The good thing about the time trial is all you have to focus on is going as fast as you can. If you’re good enough you win, and if you’re not you don’t. It’s really simple and pure in that respect and I’m hoping I have progressed from last year. But is that enough to win? I don’t know. At the end of the day the proof will be in the pudding,’’ Bond said.

Although he has advanced his own career during the past 12 months, Bond will face much stiffer competition this time around. Five World Tour riders will compete in Napier with two of them - Bauer (Mitchelton-Scott) and Alex Frame (Trek-Segafredo) entered in both the time trial and the road race.

‘‘Some of those guys have had a degree of success and good results in time trials internationally so, although you’re projecting out a

bit if you compare across races, it is a good benchmark for me and not only in terms of where I’m at presently but also my progression

from last year,’’ Bond said.

‘‘If I’m not progressing and don’t feel as though I’ve improved, not necessarily in terms of results but in performance, then I’ve got to question what the long-term projections are looking like.’’

The 31-year-old, who last year represented New Zealand at the UCI World Road Championships, is eager to press his claims for Commonwealth Games selection. At this stage it is unlikely that many of the World Tour riders will even make it to the Gold Coast as the date clashes with ParisRoubaix, one of the most prestigious Classics races on the UCI calendar.

Bauer, who won a silver medal in the road race in Glasgow in 2014, has already ruled himself out of contention for selection, as has Tour of California winner George Bennett.

‘‘I’ve said that I want to be competitive internationally so obviously you’ve got to put the horse before the cart - you can’t hold yourself up as being competitive internationally if you’re not right up there domestically. Obviously it’s important to do well, not only for Commonwealth Games selection, but for my own progression in the sport.’’

Although the time trial is his priority, Bond will back up in the road race at nationals too. He also revealed that he would be open to contesting the road race at the Commonwealth Games, should he be required to support another rider.