Wairarapa gets look at Cracker Jack

The hottest new name in New Zealand road cycling, Jack Bauer, will lead the Trust House team in the Trust House Cycle Classic in a fortnight.
The Wellington-based rider made himself a contender for Commonwealth Games selection when he out sprinted top New Zealand road riders, Hayden Roulston and Julian Dean, to win the New Zealand championship in Christchurch on Sunday, says Trust House race director Jorge Sandoval.
"Bauer surprised the two Tour de France competitors with his ability to stay with them over the gruelling 186km distance, and then he embarrassingly out-foxed them in the final sprint after he'd been dropped on the final climb, and had to catch up," Mr Sandoval said."It was a remarkable victory given the 24-year-old has only been racing for three years, and in little more than a year has gone from being a mountain biker to hold the most important road title in the country."
Bauer now has the honour of wearing his country's colours in his races this year, MR Sandoval said.
Bauer came to prominence last year, winning several races in Europe, and in November finished second behind Kiwi cycling ace Heath Blackgrove, in the Tour of Southland.  Mr Sandoval said Bauer impressed him at the club national championships in Nelson in October and it was then he decided to secure the young rider as a team leader for the Trust House team to contest the international event this month."I first met Jack as his Wellington team manager at the club nationals, and he had a fantastic ride," Mr Sandoval said.
"He was very strong on the climbs, and he is such an aggressive rider I wanted to sign him straight away for the Trust House team. Jack will be well suited to the tour with all the hills included this time around.
"The Trust House classic will give Jack a further opportunity to boost his claims for Commonwealth Games selection in Delhi in October before joining his professional team, Endura, in England, and he now looms as the most likely New Zealander to break Australia's hold on the overall tour title," Mr Sandoval said. He said an international team has been assembled to support Bauer including Australians Daniel Furmston, Benjamin Fleming and Josh Hogg, and Belgian rider Jeroen Van Shelven.
He said Van Shelven rides for the Pro Tour team, Silence Lotto, and will be a great asset considering his strong background of racing in Europe.
Mr Sandoval said the Australians are used to riding as "domestiques", which will be their role in the Trust House sponsored event.  Furmston also has a fine reputation as a climber, he said.