Talking to a rider who two days in the row has either been in a race long break or tried to get in one, former Kiwi champion Jack Bauer
About his break on stage 4 … “Four of us were looking to get away (stage4) and eventually I did with the sprints leader and Kristian House bridged up to us to make a group of three. We all worked pretty well all day and had we not been chased down, it would have been good to have a sprint for the stage win.â€
Managing the pace making in a long break – “It was a really long day, 180k as you know, and we knew at 130k across the moors, there was going to be a 10k section of pretty exposed riding so we saved a bit for their and also tried to have a bit in reserve for the final climb, Caerphilly Mountain. I was hoping there would be just the three of us and I could try and ride my own pace up the hill.â€
Jack Bauer (Endura Racing) on the attack on stage 5.
“When the bunch pulls you back, so close to the finish, there really is nothing left in the legs to respond so it was all up to Iker, Rene and Paul and Iker went pretty well, I think he went over in about sixth spot so he was pretty strong.â€
Tour of Britain compared to Tour of Utah where Jack won a stage … “It’s colder, more windy and there is more oxygen! There is no comparison though because you have so many short sharp hills it changes the whole dynamics. The Tour of Britain is a more attacking style of race.â€
Losing time on stage 3 a motivating factor for the break? “For sure. For sure. We had a big talk in the camp and our goals had to change. We expected to have at least three of us on GC but with that mistake on the third stage, it only leaves Iker and he was also involved in a little split on the first day. Our goals had to change then, to go for a stage or a jerseyâ€.
Jack then admitted before stage 5 he felt good and that showed when he went on the attack. “As I said to you at breakfast this morning, I saved a lot for that final climb, enough to beat the boys on the climb but not to beat anybody in the bunch. I felt like I didn’t use everything yesterday and should be okay today…â€