Nelson cyclist Jack Bauer is on a roll. A year ago he was a former mountain biker trying to make the transition to road cycling, but in December he lines up in Christchurch's Armstrong Motor Group Festival of Cycling as the fastest-rising road rider on the national scene.
In just its fifth year Christchurch's Armstrong Motor Group Festival of Cycling continues on its quest to become New Zealand's premier cycling event. Jack Bauer knows the feeling; in just one season he has progressed from another good rider to New Zealand's next big thing.
Bauer comes to the Armstrong Motor Group Festival of Cycling with a breakthrough year behind him. The former national mountain bike rep threw himself in the deep end in 2009, heading to the hot-bed of world cycling in Europe and surprising even himself with a handful of wins.
Belgium is where almost every would-be cycling star goes to cut their teeth. In the land of frites and beer, cycling is the national sport with top class racing in front of huge crowds two or three times a week. It's a fast way to learn the ropes, but if you learn the ropes fast enough it's also a fast way to get noticed by the top European pro teams.
Bauer landed on his feet straight away in Belgium, joining the famous Kingsnorth International Wheelers, a low-budget team set up to help young English speaking riders get a foot up. Bauer stood out for the team, managing five wins despite a mid-season crash and arriving back to the New Zealand Spring in the best shape of his life.
On home soil in Nelson he claimed the silver medal in the national club championships, losing narrowly in a sprint finish to world champion track rider Hayden Godfrey. More recently he surprised again with a strong second place in the five-day Tour of Southland behind Olympian Heath Blackgrove.
Scheduled this year for December 5th and 6th, the Armstrong Motor Group Festival of Cycling has once again attracted a who's-who on the national scene. In 2008 it attracted a record 1700 riders from Australia, England, USA, France, Germany and all ends of New Zealand.
Day one opens with the feature Avanti Long Bays Classic elite race and the Armstrong Motor Group Harbour Ride, both over the same 80k course from McCormack's Bay in Redcliffs, around Cashmere, Halswell and Motukarara before climbing over Gebbies Pass and around the undulating Lyttelton bays, over Evans Pass to finish back at McCormack's Bay.
Other highlights on day one include the Benchmark Homes Kids' Mini-Bays and the new 35k mountain bike event around the Port Hills, both of which also start and finish at McCormack's Bay.
Day two's Armstrong Motor Group City Criterium brings a taste of European cycling to Christchurch with exciting multi-lap racing around the inner city's Oxford Terrace café strip. Last year saw close to 10,000 spectators watching New Zealand's best, and they'll be treated to some top class racing yet again.
Recently crowned national time trial champion, Robin Reid, is back to defend his title in the Avanti Long Bays Classic, while recent Tour of Southland champion Heath Blackgrove will be looking to continue his fine form. Both riders are entered for the Long Bays Classic and City Criterium, with Blackgrove especially keen because despite having ridden every Armstrong Motor Group Festival of Cycling a win here has eluded him.
But few riders will be as keen as Jack Bauer right now. His stellar year has landed him a team ride with the British-registered Team Endura, who compete on the European Continental circuit. In Christchurch the always aggressive Bauer will want to confirm their faith in him and finish his breakthrough year with a win.
Entries for the Armstrong Motor Group Festival of cycling are open now. For more details: www.festivalofcycling.co.nz.
