Former New Zealand champion Jack Bauer is tipped to move up to top level team in 2012, with the 26 year old said to be considering offers from at least two big squads.
The new GreenEdge team is thought to be one of those after his signature. It has aspirations of launching as a WorldTour-level setup in 2012 and if he were to compete there, he could have a ticket to ride some of the biggest events in the sport.
According to Wielerland, another team which may be interested in him is Garmin-Cervélo. Team Sky has also been mentioned as a possible destination.
Bauer won the second stage of the Tour of Utah this year, enjoying the chance to race against some big name riders. He was also second overall in the Olympias Tour, third on a stage of the Tour of Norway and seventh on stage six of the Tour of Britain.
He said that he is determined to get into more high level races in 2012. “I haven’t signed anything but am almost certain to leave my current team Endura Racing,” he said. “It is a great team but it is a continental team, so I can not participate in races at the highest level.”
Should a GreenEdge move transpire, it would seem to be a nice fit for the rider. He could grow as it does, and his compatriot Julian Dean has been rumoured to be heading to the team.