CYCLING:BATTLING HARD on the race's toughest mountain stage, Nicolas Roche tried to pull off a huge result when he went on the attack yesterday in the Alps of the Tour de France, writes SHANE STOKES.
The Ag2r La Mondiale rider was part of a 16-man group which surged ahead shortly before the intermediate sprint at Verzuolo, 46kms after the start, and which gained considerable time on the main field.
The group had built an advantage of over nine minutes after 83km; Roche then pushed ahead with four others on the day’s second climb, the Col d’Izoard, and climbed towards the 2,360m summit. Maxim Iglinskiy (Astana) kicked clear and went over the top just over a minute clear of Roche and Maxime Monfort (Leopard Trek); the latter two were joined by Monfort’s team-mate Andy Schleck on the descent.
Schleck finished second in the Tour in 2009 and 2010 and was making a big push for the yellow jersey. He and Roche bridged up to Iglinskiy, with the Irish rider sitting third on the stage on the long climb up to the summit finish. However, he cracked with 10km to go, slipping backwards and eventually finishing 19th on the stage, four minutes 58 seconds behind Schleck.
He ended the day 19th overall but will be more encouraged by his showing in the high mountains.
Today’s third-last stage of the race takes the riders to the summit finish of Alpe d’Huez; it is uncertain if he will have anything left in his legs, but his aggressive showing proves that his motivation is high.
