Cycling 2013

[Mr A]

I think the only reason the Giro is mentioned so early is because it's visiting Ireland and he must want to be part of that. On the other hand the Irish stages look unlikely to suit him from what I recall.

[Dodge]

I completely forgot about the Giro starting here! Yeah, could easily just be a marketing move by Garmin.

[Macy]

And whoever's asking the questions as well. Journalists asks will you be at the Giro as it's starting Ireland etc. I guess it's still not closed off that he can produce over 3 weeks for a GC bid, but if he can, you'd think Giro and Vuelta courses would tend to suit him better with less time trialling and perhaps the best time trialling GC contenders not necessarily there.

[Mr A]

Roche will be one of three riders with 'support', but Kreuziger will lead the team at the Vuelta. I guess if he goes well early they'll focus on him more.
http://www.stickybottle.com/latest-n...ger-is-leader/

[Dodge]

Brilliant stage win by Nico today. Tactically perfect and with the legs to match

http://balls.ie/cycling/video-nicola...uelta-despana/

Oh and Dan Martin wants to be World Champion
http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/15...-about-GC.aspx

[swinfordfc]

Congrats to Nico Roche and it has been a great year so far for Irish cycling ..... congrats again

[Mr A]

Over the moon for Nico. Superb win. Since San Sebastian I thought his form was good.. if he maintains it and Saxo back him he could finish very well indeed.

[Macy]

Managed to avoid the result for the afternoon until the ITV highlights. When he made the move I was thinking "please not another second", so pretty much in line with what he said post stage! Brilliant win, great to see him have the killer instinct.

A few interesting things post stage as well about the Tour. Him saying the plan was never for him to be there in the high mountains for bert, he had a different, specific role for the medium mountains, with Kreuziger and Rogers the designated high mountain domestiques. Maybe it wasn't, notwithstanding to distaste of working with Riis, such a rubbish move for him afterall. Also, relations between him and Kreuziger seem ok, with Kreuziger tweeting pics of the jerseys and that last night.

Also, more on Deignan going back to the World Tour, no confirmation yet it's Sky, but Sky don't annouce signings during the season. http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/deig...worldtour-team

[Mr A]

Good news: Roche now leads overall by 17 seconds and appears to be in the form of his life. He also holds the mountains jersey and the combined jersey while holding second in the points category. Magnificent stuff.

Bad news: Martin had to withdraw after yesterday's crash. Nothing too serious, will hopefully be able to get himself in top shape for the worlds.

[swinfordfc]

Bravo Nico - fair play ... i take it all back about you

[Mr A]

Roche rode brilliantly again.. looks like he lost the jersey by a second though.. waiting for confirmation.

But disappointing he didn't have more support from Saxo in the end.

[Mr A]

Damn.. confirmed he lost it by a second. 4th on the stage. If he could have taken third or finished a second faster he would have held the jersey.

[Dodge]

Mad how goals change. Roche finishing 4th on a stage like that would usually be seen as a great result. Yesterday we were kinda disappointment

Today is huge though and I expect the big boys to come out strong

[Mr A]

Roche 7th today (provisional, I've seen a few different results posted). Was only able to follow on Twitter but he was dropped repeatedly and fought back every time. Only conceded 22 seconds to Nibali- that's a very good performance. Now 3rd overall.

Horner won solo.. at 41. With a very dodgy history. And an attitude to doping as late as last year he was defending Armstrong. That doesn't smell good at all.

Meanwhile Fernando Alonso is to rescue the Euskatel team who previously looked doomed. He's great friends with Contador, so that could be interesting to see how that develops.

[Dodge]

Horner has always bugged the **** out of me. he's a godd time trialist too. If Nico is still 3rd after the time trial he has a great chance of a podium. Will still be tough

[Mr A]

Roche usually suffers the day after a rest day and his time trialling is suspect so it could be very tough. On the other hand he has put in some decent TTs this year and is in the form of his life, while the course includes a 3rd cat climb so won't be all about the specialists. Instinct is he'll slip[ back a bit but hopefully not.

[Mr A]

Roche 4th after first split.. same time as Nibali.. he's flying.. hopefully he can keep it going. (Note: Health Warning- a lot of first splits have been wrong)

[Mr A]

Roche 5th at second time check. Same time as Valverde. Nibali 11 sec faster than Roche

[Mr A]

Roche 5th +1:48 .. Nibali to come though will probably bump him down a place. Super, super stuff though.

Horner will probably drop back though.

[Mr A]

Roche now second on the GC.

1 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana Pro Team 41:22:22
2 Nicolas Roche (Irl) Team Saxo-Tinkoff 0:00:33
3 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar Team 0:00:46
4 Christopher Horner (USA) RadioShack Leopard
5 Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha 0:02:33
6 Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale 0:02:44
7 Ivan Basso (Ita) Cannondale Pro Cycling 0:02:55
8 Thibaut Pinot (Fra) FDJ 0:03:35
9 Rafal Majka (Pol) Team Saxo-Tinkoff 0:03:46
10 Daniel Moreno Fernandez (Spa) Katusha 0:03:56