CYCLING/Giro d'Italia:Young Irish rider Nicolas Roche rode prominently in the finale of yesterday's third stage of the Giro d'Italia, getting a gap on the main bunch inside the final kilometre before the finish line in Cagliari, Sardinia.
He had been leading out the sprint for Thor Hushovd, the team's sprinter, but the Norwegian lost position and later crashed while Roche ended up going clear himself. He opened up a lead over the peloton and held off the rest of the field for approximately 600 metres. While he was swamped by the bunch in the final sprint, it is a good sign for the 22-year-old, who is taking part in his first three-week Tour.
"I was clear inside the final kilometre," he said. "Initially I was riding to lead out the sprint (for Hushovd) but when I went, the guy behind me let the wheel go and I got a bit of a gap. They caught me with about 400 metres to go."
Roche sat up once he was caught and rolled across the line in 46th place, being classified in the same time as stage winner Alessandro Petacchi (Team Milram).
Despite his prominent showing, Roche said that the stage was tough due to problems with his cycling shoes in the heat.
"I wasn't feeling the best all day. With the heat, I can't feel my legs. It's the first time to ride with these shoes in such hot weather and my feet were killing me. I will try to have to get something sorted out. But I guess it is a good sign to go like that in the final kilometre of a stage."
Italian sprint specialist Petacchi bounced back from his disappointment with Sunday's third place to net what is the 20th Giro d'Italia stage victory of his career. He hit the line ahead of Robert Förster (Gerolsteiner) and Maximiliano Richeze (Ceramica Panaria-Navigare), with stage two victor Robbie McEwen (Predictor-Lotto) back in fourth.
Young Italian rider Enrico Gasparotto (Liquigas) finished ahead of team-mate Danilo Di Luca and reclaimed the pink jersey of race leadership. Roche is 100th overall, two minutes and 50 seconds back.
The riders fly to the Italian mainland today, with racing resuming tomorrow.
GIRO D'ITALIA (181km third stage from Barumini to Cagliari): 1 Alessandro Petacchi (Italy, Milram) 4 hrs 22 mins 57 secs; 2 Robert Förster (Germany, Gerolsteiner) same time; 3 Maximiliano Richeze (Argentina, Panaria). Overall standings: 1 Enrico Gasparotto (Italy, Liquigas) 10 hrs 3 mins 48 secs; 2 Danilo Di Luca (Italy, Liquigas) same time; 3 Andrea Noe (Italy, Liquigas). Sprinters standings: 1 Alessandro Petacchi (Italy, Milram) 41 points; 2 Robbie McEwen (Australia, Predictor-Lotto) 39; 3 Maximiliano Richeze (Argentina, Panaria) 28. Team standings: 1 Liquigas 29 hours 4 minutes 8 seconds; 2 Astana +13 seconds; 3 Team CSC +30.
