Jack Bauer's career might be about to take a significant step forward by signing with one of the top professional teams.
The 26-year-old came to prominence when he won last year's national road cycling title, outsprinting Hayden Roulston and Julian Dean, and has spent the past two years with ProContinental team Endura Racing. But a stage win at this year's Tour of Utah as well as some strong late-season form has seen him field two offers from Pro Tour teams who feature in the Tour de France. Dean, Roulston, Greg Henderson, Jesse Sergent and Sam Bewley make up the Kiwi contingent with Pro Tour teams.
"I have had a bit of success in the last couple of months with a stage win in the Tour of Utah," he said. "That really kicked things off for me career wise. I have a couple of cards on the table at the moment but haven't signed anything yet. I definitely plan to move on from Endura Racing. It's a great team but Continental - like third division - and we don't get biggest starts. It would be great to go bigger and that's what I plan to do.
"It's really exciting. It's something any road rider aspires to do and for me it's no different. I would love to step it up and ride some bigger events and improve as a rider. In the next week or 10 days I will have my decision."
Bauer will be joined by more seasoned professionals Dean and Henderson in tomorrow morning's (NZT) road cycling world championships in Copenhagen. He finished a solid 19th in Thursday's men's time trial, one behind Sergent, and will provide support to both Dean and Henderson, who will both hope to be among the action when the expected sprint finish on the 260km course unfolds.
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The New Zealanders might struggle to position themselves well with a small team of only three riders up against the larger nations like Australia, France, Germany and Italy and Bauer wasn't sure whether they will be working to position Dean or Henderson for the final sprint.
"Both Greg and Julian are similar riders in how they can finish off a long race," Bauer said. "It might come down to their decision on the day and how they are feeling. It's definitely not me. I'm there to do the donkey work.
"We are a small country with only three riders so we don't have the cards to control the race. Things have to work out on the day for there to be a realistic opportunity [of one of the Kiwis finishing on the podium]. But you never go to a race to lose. Both of those guys are class sprinters so, given the right conditions, anything can happen."
The London Olympic course is also likely to suit the sprinters and, at this stage, New Zealand are likely to have two starters - the number of riders is based on world rankings. It will limit their chances of picking up a medal and the selectors will be keeping a keen eye on what happens in Copenhagen tomorrow morning to establish where their best chances might lie.
Bauer hasn't been given any indication of where he might fit into BikeNZ's plans and felt a tilt at the time trial might be his best chance of competing in London.
Other time triallists like Sergent and Bewley are likely to be preoccupied with the team's pursuit on the track, opening up a chance for Bauer.
