Commonwealth Games cyclist Jack Bauer reckons he is better and smarter rider as he defends his title in the RaboDirect New Zealand Road Championships in Christchurch at the weekend.
The 25 year old from Takaka upset his more fancied rivals to edge out Hayden Roulston and Julian Dean in the sprint to win last year's race on the tough terrain on the Cashmere Hills.
A year of racing professionally in the UK has him wiser and ready to take on a field brimful of talent on Sunday in the 186km elite men's race, comprising 13 laps of the circuit in the Hoon Hay area of Christchurch.
It has attracted a field including Pro Tour riders Julian Dean (Garman Transitions), Greg Henderson (Team Sky), Hayden Roulston (HTC Columbia), Sam Bewley and Jesse Sergent (both Radioshack) along with national series champion Jeremy Yates and former Francais de Jeux pro Tim Gudsell, now with the new Pure Black Racing team.
'It definitely won't be the same. I won't be able to sneak up on them this time. The riders that are there to win will be more wary about having me there at the end and will try to get rid me of early on.
"I have to approach it in a different way and race it a lot more smart."
Bauer, who is now living in Christchurch, says he is a much improved rider after his year in the UK.
"Compared with the person I was last year I have a lot more up my sleeve. I have a lot more to bring to this race, not just fitness-wise but a little bit more experience and a bit more know-how. Fitness-wise I am good and raring to go."
He raced for the Endura Continental team in the UK in 2010 and while he was not particularly enamoured with the weather nor the quality of racing at times, he has learned a lot and will stay with the team which has big plans.
"There's a much stronger roster and we will venture into Europe this year. The team has really looked after me. They have good backing and big plans to be Pro Continental by 2012."
Bauer said it had been a high point to wear the national champion's jersey for the year.
"It's been a privilege and an honour to wear the jersey. It certainly got plenty of attention in the media when I raced. It's something that I had always aspired to. To achieve the national title and race professionally made 2010 very special and it came earlier in my career than I had expected."
He said the introduction of the trade teams Pure Black Racing alongside the Subway Avanti will add a different element to Sunday's race against the other individual riders.
"The climb up Dyers Pass eliminated a lot of the competition last year and shelled out a lot of riders. I'm hoping that will be the case again or the trade teams could be a major factor. I may live to regret my words but unless there's a break that goes up the road, I can't really see it being a lot different this time in that the stronger riders will be there at the end."
Bauer will head back to UK next month with eyes on a big year and to force his way into New Zealand teams going forward.
"I want to make the team for the worlds this year and the big goal is the London Olympics in 18 months time. At this stage I want to put all my eggs in the road basket."
The championships begin on Friday with the time trial at Lincoln College which will be open with Gordon McCauley and Melissa Holt not defending their titles. The women's elite road race is on Saturday covering eight laps in the 123km race where Rushlee Buchanan (Te Awamutu) will defend her title in a classy field including US-based pro teammate Catherine Cheatley (Wanganui), the 2010 US series champion, and fellow pro tour riders Joanne Kiesanowski (Christchurch) and national series champion Serena Sheridan (Hawkes Bay).
For full details, see www.elitenationals.co.nz.
