The 2010 national road champion Jack Bauer was the best of a big kiwi contingent in the opening prologue at the Tour of Utah.
Bauer, making a rare appearance across the Atlantic for his UK-based Endura Racing Team, was eighth in the 2km prologue at Park City, Utah. He finished 9.57s behind winner Sergio Henao Montoya who won in 4:05.
There are 12 New Zealanders competing in the Tour including seven in Pure Place Racing led by Glen Chadwick and Tim Gudsell, Jeremy Vennell and Paddy Bevin for Bissell, Hayden Roulston for HTC High Road, Bauer and George Bennett, racing as a stagiaire for in the high profile Radioshack team .
After Bauer, Roman van Uden for Pure Black was next fastest 22.6 seconds back.
Meanwhile in Europe Jesse Sergent is in eighth place on general classification after two stages of the Tour of Eneco in The Netherlands and Belgium.
Jesse, riding for RadioShack, has finished in the peloton in big bunch finishes in the opening two stages, won by Andrew Greipel (Omega Pharma-Lotto). He is 12 seconds down on the leader on GC, former Trek Ridestrong teammate Taylor Phinney (BMC).
Greg Henderson (Team Sky) is 18th on GC and 18 seconds back after also finishing in the peloton.