Bauer realises dream with Tour de France start
Thursday 27 June 2013, 11:46AM
669 views
BikeNZ cyclist Jack Bauer has realised a dream when he was today confirmed as a starter in the 100th Tour de France which begins in Corsica on Sunday (NZ time).
The 27 year old becomes the 11th New Zealander to ride in the Tour de France, and will join compatriot Greg Henderson as Kiwi starters.
“It is a dream come true as it is for any Kiwi cyclist. This is the pinnacle of any road cycling event and to start it as a Kiwi, not many have done in the past, is something I have dreamed about since I was a kid,” Bauer said in Corsica today.
“I remember watching it back in my day and it seemed like an impossible road to get here and yet here I am on the eve of the Centenary edition. It is pretty special.”
Bauer’s Garmin-Sharp team was only named officially today, after Henderson was named two weeks for his second start with the Lotto-Belisol team.
“I heard last night officially,” Bauer said. “While it’s come out in the media late, for the last week and a half I have known mostly what the line up would be and that I would be going.”
The man from Golden Bay said he has focussed the huge challenge of 23405kms of racing over 21 stages.
“I have prepared really well for this. Since Paris-Roubaix (in early April) I have had nothing on my mind but this. I’ve made a lot of sacrifices and put a lot into it but I am really happy to be here and on the start line.”
His role will be as a support for the team’s general classification riders, especially Andrew Talansky who has aspirations for the white jersey for the best young cyclist, as well as a key member for the team time trial.
Bauer’s strong performances this season and his excellent debut in the Giro D’Italia were strong indicators of his chances for selection to the Tour de France.
“I rode the Giro last year and had a great Grand Tour debut. I have showed I can perform over three weeks. I am old enough and strong enough to handle it.
“But everyone says the Tour is another ball game entirely. It is much higher level, much higher speed, a way more frantic race. So I don’t know if the two can be compared. “
He has not ridden in Corsica before, with the island selected to host the opening three stages of the tour for the first time, and is also eying the quintessential mountain stages later in the tour including a double ascent of switchbacks of Alpe D’Huez and the infamous Mont Ventoux.
“D’Huez has always been a mythical climb. A lot of battles have been fought up it. I was looking forward to see it which I did at the Dauphine when I got to experience the beast, but not a double hit like in the Tour this time.
“Ventoux is another kettle of fish entirely. It is going to be a bit of a battle to get up that one.”
The Garmin-Sharp team has been preparing initially at altitude at Sierra Nevada, where he met with members of the New Zealand swim team, and in recent days in Gerona before flying into Corsica today.
“I am relatively relaxed person and will just soak it up. I am really happy to get this chance so early in my career.”
There is no traditional prologue, starting with a 213km stage followed by two further stages in Corsica ahead of the team time trial on stage four in Nice.
The New Zealand riders who have competed in the Tour de France are: Harry Watson (1928), Tino Tabak (1971, 1972, 1973), Paul Jesson (1979), Eric McKenzie (1982, 1983, 1985, 1986), Nathan Dahlberg 1988, 1989), Stephen Swart (1987, 1994, 1995), Julian Dean (2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011), Hayden Roulston (2009), Chris Renner (2001), Greg Henderson (2012, 2013) and Jack Bauer (2013).