WITH THE start of the Tour de France now less than one month away, Nicolas Roche feels confident his form is building well and that he is on course for a good performance in the race, his main goal of the season.
The Ag2r La Mondiale rider spent four days this week at a team training camp in La Toussuire, riding some of the climbs he will race on during the tour, and also building condition.
“I feel like I am going well,” he said yesterday. “I’ve come out of the Tour of California with good form and things are continuing to build.”
Roche had an impressive 2010, netting 14th in the Tour, seventh in the Vuelta a Espana and taking several other strong results. Last year was more difficult, with a crash in the build-up to the Tour affecting his performance there. After netting 25th overall and 16th in the Vuelta, he’s hoping to get back to his top level this year.
The 27-year-old’s next race will be the Tour de Suisse, which begins on June 9th. He’s riding that instead of the Dauphiné, thus returning to his programme of 2010, and is looking for a good performance there.
“I’m hoping for a top-10 finish,” he said. “I need that in a stage race as it’ll be good for my confidence.”
Roche will then return to Ireland for the national road race championships, riding the time trial in June 20th and then the road race on June 23rd.
“I’d love to win the road race again, but also to take the time trial,” he said. “My TT position has been changed after I spent some time in the wind tunnel and I think it’ll help me be faster. Having the national champion’s jersey would be a big psychological boost as there’s so much time trialling in this year’s tour.”
Roche is also hoping to compete in the Olympic Games, although he recognises Cycling Ireland’s selectors will decide who fills the three available places.
The latest qualification criteria points put him fourth behind Dan Martin, An Post Grant Thornton Sean Kelly team rider Sam Bennett and David McCann (RTS Racing), but selectors also have up to 100 discretionary points they can add to a rider’s total. In truth, it’s very hard to see how Roche wouldn’t be selected, as he has been racing at the required level for several years and has some very good results to his credit.
Meanwhile, Bennett is recovering well from a freak accident which happened after he finished second on the final stage of the An Post Rás on Sunday. A champagne cork hit him in the eye but after receiving treatment, he has seen steady improvement.
FIXTURES:Friday to Sunday: Rás Dhún na nGall, starts Ardara at 7.30pm. Friday: Anagary Festival races, 6.30pm.
Saturday:Duane Delaney races, 11.30 am Sundrive Road. Brian Osborne criterium, sign on Blarney GAA club from 6pm.
Sunday:Swords GP, sign on from 10am at Ballyboughal GAA club; Crowley and Stratton Memorials, Blarney. Races start noon; Newry Youth Race, Glenn GAA club, starts 11am. Trentagh Fair, 6.30pm.
