Jack Bauer takes narrow win in Herald Sun Tour prologue

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Jack Bauer (Garmin-Sharp) has claimed the prologue of the 2014 Jayco Herald Sun Tour by just under a second over Tom Scully (New Zealand National Team). Scully had spent the majority of the race in the leaders hot seat but the second last rider to head onto the 2.5km race around the banks of Melbourne's Yarra River stole the show and the first leaders jersey of the race. Bauer also added the points jersey to his collection on a successful foray around an atmospheric course that witnessed large crowds who had popped by after work to watch the race.

"Tom is a pretty awesome bike rider - he's just come off the track, so I knew he'd be one of the men to beat today," Bauer said."It's a bit of a pity to knock a fellow Kiwi off the top perch, but it might as well be another Kiwi doing it."

On their debut at a UCI 2.1 ranked race, it was African Wildlife Safaris who started proceedings and duly took the first hot seat on offer. Late inclusion James Rendall was the rider to set the pace but his time on the stage was to be shorted lived as Neil Van Der Pleog (Avanti), missing his recognisable curly locks after a haircut earlier today, was the next rider to set the fastest time with 3:05 minutes.

Will Clarke (Drapac) was the next rider to take his place on the hot seat with a time of 3:02 minutes and it would take Scully's time to knock him off. Cameron Meyer then Steele von Hoff came close to Clarke's time on the technical course before Felix English, despite overcooking a few corners, came within a point of a second to slot into second place behind Clarke.

Clarke, English and von Hoff were enjoying their time on the stage until 2011 overall race winner Nathan Haas came in with a time of 3:03 to take his teammates place on the podium.

Scully then set the blistering time of 3:01 which gave him the race lead and stage win as the overall favourites failed to unseat the New Zealander but it would be another Kiwi who would end the twilight race in the yellow jersey and put Garmin in a commanding position to claim overall honours on Sunday afternoon.

"Like everyone says, he's (Gerrans) in the form of his life and there's no better bike rider from this side of the world at the moment." Bauer said.

"Obviously he's the man to beat and he has a strong team around him but so do we and we can do exactly the same thing. We definitely have a few cards to play."

Race favourite Simon Gerrans was 11th on testing course and said after the race that his goal was get through unscathed. "My objective was to get through as fast and safely as possible the tour wasn't going to be lost tonight," Gerrans said, adding that Orica-GreenEdge still have several hands to play. "Cameron Meyer and I are still well and truly within striking distance."

Defending champion Calvin Watson was 78th with a time of 3:16 while Haas ended up fifth with teammates von Hoff and Rohan Dennis one and two seconds off his time respectably.

The race heads to Ballarat tomorrow over 116km starting in Geelong and Bauer is confident in his team’s ability to deliver the win on Sunday. "I will see what I can do to hold onto the jersey early on before we hit the hills. Obviously the stages are fairly lumpy, especially that final at Arthur's Seat. Don't get me wrong - we come here to win always," Bauer said.

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