CYCLING TOUR DE FRANCE: NICOLAS ROCHE was visibly pleased to get to the end of the Tour de France yesterday. All riders are, of course, but for Roche reaching Paris meant reaching the end of what has been largely a frustrating time for him.

He was 15th overall last year but never hit the same form due to preparation disrupted by injury.

“Finishing the Tour is a very different feeling than the one I was expecting,” he told The Irish Times yesterday.

“I am really happy it is done and dusted and everything, but I came with ambitions, trying to go for GC . Even if GC wasn’t going to go right, I’d give it a proper go on the stage.

“I tried, but at the end of the day when I do my statistics, I haven’t been great. I have enjoyed myself on two occasions going up the road, so I did take a bit of pleasure, but I also took a few lessons.”

Roche went on the attack on last Thursday’s stage to the Galibier Serre Chevalier, the highest finish in Tour history, and said the effects of that long break remained long after he crossed the finish line.

Roche ended the race a solid 26th overall, 46 minutes 23 seconds off the time of Cadel Evans.

He said that he was looking forward to a night out in Paris, celebrating the end of the Tour with his father, Stephen, and his team-mates.

The French riders on the team met President Sarkozy at a reception held for the home competitors yesterday, but Roche, whose mother is French, but races for Ireland, didn’t attend.