CYCLING: HAVING MADE the breakthrough after winning his first UCI WorldTour race in the recent Tour of Beijing, Nicolas Roche is heading into the winter months with greater confidence and also a different approach to things for 2012.
“I always believed in myself, but couldn’t work out why the big win wasn’t coming,” he told The Irish Times yesterday, speaking during a number of media appearances to promote his autobiography.
“I was second on stages of the Vuelta a Espana and the Tour de France, third on a stage of Paris-Nice, but kept missing out. When I went to Beijing myself and the team put everything on that one stage, really focusing on it as they believed I could do it, and when it worked out it was a big weight off me. I hope it makes the difference next year, that this is just the start of the big wins. I’ve realised that when I wait for the move it doesn’t happen.
“I have to be the one to make the move, and also to get back to riding more aggressively. In going for the general classification in races, I’ve changed my style and I want to return to attacking more.”
However, Roche has taken seventh in the Vuelta a Espana, 15th in the Tour de France and landed high overall placings in numerous big events due to a more measured approach.
Roche clarified that he wasn’t planning on giving up his GC ambitions. “I’ll still go for the overall in races like the Tour, but in others I will ride more aggressively,” he explained.
His autobiography, Inside The Peloton: My Life as a Professional Cyclist, was yesterday nominated for the Irish Sports Book of the year.
Meanwhile his first cousin, Dan Martin, has flown to Ireland after a superb second place in last Saturday’s Tour of Lombardy race. He finished at the head of a five-man chase group behind the solo winner Oliver Zaugg (Leopard Trek). He will appear at a Garmin publicity event in Belfast’s Chain Reaction Cycles tomorrow.
Irish under-23 time trial champion Seán Downey has signed a deal to compete with the An Post Grant Thornton M Donnelly Sean Kelly team in 2012. “It’s no secret that we have been after Sean for a while now and I’m delighted that he has joined the team,” said team manager Kurt Bogaerts.
“He’s a young rider with huge potential. He’s strong in all departments – a good time trialist and a climber too.”
The 21-year-old has been racing with a French amateur team this year and put in some good performances. He’ll hope to step it up a level with the Irish-sponsored, Belgium-based An Post team next season.
Finally four Irish riders will compete in the European track championships in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands, over the next three days, hoping to advance the country’s push for Olympic qualification. Martyn Irvine will compete in the Omnium, David O’Loughlin will ride the points race and Caroline Ryan will compete in the women’s Omnium. She will also do the women’s team pursuit with Ciara Horne and Sinéad Jennings.
WEEKEND FIXTURES
Tomorrow: Supercross Cup round two, Swords. First race at 11.30am; Ulster cyclocross round three, Seacourt, Larne. Sign on from 9.30am.
Sunday: Women’s commission AGM, Carlton Hotel, Blanchardstown, 3pm; Gerard Brannigan Memorial cycle, starts 10.30am from Grasshopper Pub, Clonee.
