Leading New Zealand cyclist Jack Bauer believes rower-turned-rider Hamish Bond has the potential to be a world-class individual time trialist.
Bauer, who has ridden the Tour de France four times and has a Commonwealth Games silver medal, forfeited his national time trial title to Bond on Friday when he was unable to line up due to illness.
Even if he'd been fit, he had serious doubts about matching motors with the double Olympic champion rower.
"He put in a quick time on a really windy day," Bauer told Radio Sport, "and I don't know if I could have topped him."
![Jack Bauer.](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/7ZJMMPVN2FFFYEQG3RBT24VGX4.jpg?auth=1189a8fe679405be466106da4b426cbfde4265df2136d52115d4b53c31742454&width=16&height=22&quality=70&smart=true)