CYCLING:NICOLAS ROCHE and Philip Deignan had solid performances on yesterday's toughest mountain stage of the Tour de Suisse. Roche placed 20th on the 213.3km stage from Meiringen to La Punt, crossing the line three minutes and 50 seconds behind the solo victor Robert Gesink of Rabobank.
Rigoberto Uran led home an eight-man chase group some 42 seconds later, with Tour de France favourites Lance Armstrong and Frank Schleck placing fifth and eighth.
Deignan was active early on in the stage, going clear in an attack less than 10km after the start in Meiringen.
The group built a lead of five-and-a-half minutes over the hors categorie Sustenpass and the first category Oberalppass, but they were all caught on the final climb.
Deignan cracked and eventually finished 117th, but rode aggressively. Afterwards, he said he had planned to give it a shot.
“It was just about 50 kilometres too long. I had the power to go away today in the break and felt okay for the first 100 kilometres, but didn’t have the distance in my legs.
“I just blew before the last climb. I kind of thought that would happen, but thought I’d try anyway,” he said.
He has had a season complicated by injury and illness, with a bad stomach virus causing him to drop out of the recent Tour of California and preventing him from training for a week.
Team manager Jean Paul Van Poppel confirmed he is still a potential candidate for Cervélo’s Tour de France team, but Deignan realises it is a battle against time.
“I am long way off where I want to be, but I don’t know. We’ll see.”
Roche has already been confirmed for the Ag2r La Mondiale Tour squad. He is 19th overall heading into today’s lumpy stage to Wetzikon, three minutes 51 seconds behind Gesink. Deignan is 121st.
In other news, the Halfords Tour Series races come to Ireland this week, with a 75-minute criterium taking place near Belfast’s City Hall at 7.30 this evening.
Tomorrow sees the British and Irish riders clash on a circuit on Dame Street and in Temple Bar, with the race starting at 6pm. Daniel Martin of Garmin Transitions will ride both events.
Philip Lavery will spearhead a Team Ireland squad, while Connor McConvey will lead the An Post Grant Thornton M Donnelly Sean Kelly selection.
There will also be Irish teams representing each province.
Fixtures
Friday–Sunday: Newry 3 Day, first stage starts 7pm. Friday: Halfords Tour Series, Belfast. Starts City Hall at 7.30pm. Saturday: Halfords Tour Series, Dublin. Starts Lord Edward Street at 6pm; youth track league, Sundrive Road; sign on from 11am; Moy Valley TT, starts 9.15am. Saturday–Sunday:Paddy Flanagan 2 day, Kildare town. Stage 1 starts at 1pm. Sunday: Leahy Cup Race, Ballymore, Cobh. First races at 11.30am; IVCA 80km, Curragh; starts 9.15; Connacht RR championships, contact John at 094 9025966 for details; XC MTB series, Kippure Estate; first races at 11am.
