Nico Roche (Ag2r) Interview - What do you want to know?

[NickBVK]

What are your plans for the future with Ag2r? Do you feel you could achieve more at a different team?

 

[Ryaguas]

Bonjour Monsieur Roche!!

1. Which race(s) do you like the most? and Why? (besides Le Tour OFC... everybody loves Le Tour)
2. How do you plan your calendary? Does the team make it? or is something that is open to discuss and you make it with the team thinking to peak for certain race(s)?
3. When you are with the big names in the mountains what are your thoughts? You have expecifics thoughts or You just concentrate in the wheel ahead and try to keep the pace?
4. Do you think that certain brands of bikes makes some diferences in the high mountains? if yes Why? and Which one would you like to ride in the future?
5. Are you thinking to be more agressive in the races this year? cuz last year I saw you too conservative... was that a team desicion or is just your way to ride?
6. Which are your favorites climbs? any special one? or any funny anecdote to share related to that climb? =D
7. With which active rider would you like to train your climbing skills? and why?

ufff I have tons of more questions but I dnt want to bother much more... feel free to choose Joe!

ah ah ah wait the last one! Who would win in a battle between Vino and Chuck Norris!!!?

Well thx for your answer Nico! hope that you can have a GREAT season and you could get very good results! I'll be watching and cheering you!

Ruben Dario
Venezuela

 

[forty four]

one of my favorite riders great attitude keep it up bro. hmm im supposed to ask a question ok whats your yearly mileage these days as a pro tour rider?

 

[The Gnome]

Cycling aside and all therein...I know you grew up in France and was wondering do you see yourself as more of an Irish guy or a French fellow? and if something more subtle and mixed...is that a difficult balancing act?

 

[flicker]

Nic you are a class act. What do you think of Paul Kimmage for insulting your father?

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Biel or Blel?

 

[ferryman]

Nic you are a class act. What do you think of Paul Kimmage for insulting your father?

You are trolling again but Kimmage should be addressed. A more pertinent question would be what is your (Nic that is) response to Kimmage calling you out to make a stance on doping.

 

[flicker]

First thing, Kimmage puts people on the spot, Micheal Moore style. Seeing how cool calm and collected Nic Roche appears in the Pro-Cycling interview, he should be prepared for and have an answer for any question from anyone.

Even of course, unpleasant questions.

 

[maratsafin]

kuota

you're on a kom most of the season. will you ride roubaix? if so what changes would you make for that? any other customisation you make on your bike? cheers and best of for 2011

 

[Fus087]

Cycling aside and all therein...I know you grew up in France and was wondering do you see yourself as more of an Irish guy or a French fellow? and if something more subtle and mixed...is that a difficult balancing act?

That would definitely be interesting to hear about.

 

[LeakyLens]

Nicolas, on the stage into Pau during last year's Tour, why did you bother taking part in the bunch sprint for 10th place, when the next stage of the race was the queen stage up the Tourmalet? Would you not have been better served rolling in behind the sprint safely in the bunch, and saving all possible energy for the next stage?

Thanks

 

[dolophonic]

What football team do you support? and why ?

 

[Boeing]

If you could be any musician in the world who would you be?

 

[taiwan]

What is the capital of Uraguay?

 

[craig1985]

1/ What country has the hardest set of mountains to ride, and also to race over?
2/ When riding over mountains over the Tourmalet, or other Alpine or Pyreneen cols, what sort of speeds do you average?
3/ You have ridden for teams that use Campagnolo, Shimano, and SRAM Red, which one do you prefer?
4/ How many KM's a week do you do? Do you train with somebody else?
5/ What is your diet like? And what sacrifices have you made to become a better climber? What do you do diet wise when you have to drop some weight to get back into your racing eight?
6/ What result are you most proud of (non victories included)?

All the best, and a win a stage at the Tour!

 

[Kerbdog]

As a fellow countryman I wish nothing but the best for Nicholas. I would like to know if he will come over for his Fathers sportive in Middleton in Cork in early May (as if !!!!) & basically is he on for headin for pints straight afterwards????

COME ON Nick !!!!

Ask him what he thinks of Joe Papp's story. Theirs a question.

 

[blaxland]

Q1:What Win/victory do you consider your greatest?And why?

Q2:If you ran into John Gadret in a dark alley,What would you do?

 

[joe_papp]

What is the capital of Uraguay?

Dunno but the capital of Uruguay is Montevideo

Who would win in a battle between Vino and Chuck Norris!!!?

If Chuck Norris was a toilet, Vino wouldn't flush him - he would simply scare the sh^t out of him with an attack.

How do you get along with Gadret since the incident last year and how do you expect will this influence the coming year and the decision in who is choosen to ride what?

This is actually a great question and one that will definitely be asked, as Roche's willingness to publicly express the full magnitude of his anger towards his own teammate was surprisingly unique.

Thanks to everyone who submitted a question. I'm organizing things now and expect to move along shortly. If you've got a last minute question, please email it to me directly and I'll see what I can do.

Cheers.

 

[dolophonic]

Craig asked some really good ones.

 

[dutchie]

Interview

Question for Nico,i backed Nico for the tour this year at 500/1 at €50 E.W in Ireland,does nico think i got good value.

 

[joe_papp]

resurrected!

Though I know we're a year late with it (things have been complicated!), the Nico Roche interview is going ahead and should be live before Paris-Nice.

If anyone still has a relevant, topical question based on developments last season - which wasn't the easiest for Roche - feel free to PM me ASAP or leave the question here.

Thanks for your participation in this unique interview process

 

[simo1733]

Would you like to ride for Sky

 

[barmaher]

Hi Nicolas,

Q1. What type of stage/race do you think suits you best? Which stage type makes you wake up in the morning and think you have a right chance?

Short/long? Huge mountains or medium mountains? MTF/flat/ramp finish?

Q2. If you could make one change to the world of cycling, what would it be?

Q3. I think you should ask the question below about high GC or Monument. Would you prefer 3rd in the Tour or a win in LBL or GdL? How about 5th in the Tour or an Amstel Gold win?

 

[hrotha]

Would you like to ride for Sky

"Sky is a great team and I have many good friends there, I'm super happy and completely focused on AG2R right now but who knows what'll happen in the future."

There, your stock response.

 

[joe_papp]

1/ What country has the hardest set of mountains to ride, and also to race over?
2/ When riding over mountains over the Tourmalet, or other Alpine or Pyreneen cols, what sort of speeds do you average?
3/ You have ridden for teams that use Campagnolo, Shimano, and SRAM Red, which one do you prefer?
4/ How many KM's a week do you do? Do you train with somebody else?
5/ What is your diet like? And what sacrifices have you made to become a better climber? What do you do diet wise when you have to drop some weight to get back into your racing eight?
6/ What result are you most proud of (non victories included)?

All the best, and a win a stage at the Tour!

Thanks, Craig. Definitely going to ask your #4 and think it's especially interesting to know who he trains with, if anyone, and how often. Probably will try to work-in a variation of #5 as well, and #6 I think will be asked exactly as you've written it (though credit to user blaxland for asking a similar question).

Would you like to ride for Sky

I'm going to try to avoid Yes/No questions, and while hrotha has some fun at your expense with his "response," I can promise you that there will be a question or two about his current team and their ability to support him (or lack therein) and what that could mean for his future.

"Sky is a great team and I have many good friends there, I'm super happy and completely focused on AG2R right now but who knows what'll happen in the future."

There, your stock response.

LOL yeah probably right w/ that...