CYCLING:IN CONTRAST to many of his rivals for the world road race championships, Nicolas Roche is gambling he will be able to perform well despite arriving just days before the start.
This year’s worlds are taking place in Melbourne, Australia, and many riders have flown out this week to give themselves time to recover from the flight and adjust to the different time zone prior to the road race on Sunday week.
Belgian favourite Philippe Gilbert left the day after last Sunday’s finish of the Vuelta a España, beginning his journey to Australia from Madrid.
The Italian riders are also among those who have flown out this week, and did a reconnoitre of the course yesterday.
However, Roche said he is mentally fatigued after riding the Tour de France and Vuelta a España and, for the sake of his motivation, he needed some time before flying.
He will leave for Australia on Tuesday, getting in four days before the Elite road race.
“I have been away for two Grand Tours and have done a lot,” he said.
“Mentally, I feel that I needed to stay at home and spend this week there, then go there at the last minute and stay focused there. The alternative is to go there early and spend 10 days thinking about what is going to happen. I didn’t want to be in Australia going around in circles, thinking, thinking, thinking. I don’t think that would have suited me.”
Roche had a superb showing in the Vuelta, netting several top-10 stage placings and finishing seventh overall. He was just 20 seconds off fifth place, and 43 off fourth. It was the first time for him to ride two Grand Tours in one year and followed on from his fine 15th overall in the Tour de France.
The 26-year-old is clearly in strong form, but says he needs time to chill out.
“In this particular situation, as I am just back from the Vuelta, I think I needed to go home, empty my suitcase, sit in my sofa, watch my TV and do my training here. To focus on getting ready for the Worlds from here, and go there and do the job.”
Roche is arguably in the best shape of his career and has been named by Italian team leader Filippo Pozzato as one of the big dangers in the race. He isn’t comfortable with such suggestions, due in part to his tendency to put a lot of pressure on himself anyway, and said that historically he has not had great worlds campaigns.
“I hope I am going to be okay. I will try to keep focused and hope that things go right,” he said.
“I’ve never been a world championship rider, I have never been able to do a good Worlds. There was always something missing on the day. I am saying to myself, ‘okay, maybe this one could be different, as I am going well’. I will give it a shot anyway.”
However, if Roche can hold his Vuelta form, he should certainly be a factor in the race. He will be backed by national champion Matt Brammeier and David McCann in the 260km event.
McCann will also do the elite time trial, one year after finishing 10th in Mendrisio.
He showed good form this month, netting ninth overall in the Tour of China.
Brammeier completed the Tour of Britain last Saturday and won the most aggressive rider award on the final stage, thanks to two long attacks.
Philip Lavery was the best Irish rider overall in the latter event, taking 24th. He is on a trial with the An Post Grant Thornton M Donnelly Seán Kelly squad and looks certain to be offered a contract for 2011.
Seán Downey also rode well and is thought to also be on the team’s wish list.
FIXTURES
Saturday: Track commission agm, West County Hotel, Chapelizod, 2pm.
Sunday: Irish XC Marathon championships, Ballyhoura, Limerick; Connacht HC championships, call John Brennan on 094 9025966 for details; Ulster 100 TT championships, Woodgreen, 8am.
