Nicolas Roche Discussion Thread

[happytramp]

What was the bust up with him and Benatti about? Throat grabbing seems a little extreme, no?

 

[jyhjyh]

Diary for 28th August 2013

http://www.independent.ie/sport/oth...eones-back-garden-at-any-minute-29536080.html

 

[Dedelou]

http://www.independent.ie/sport/oth...eones-back-garden-at-any-minute-29536080.html

Nice description of the hidden hardships associated with logistic of a stage. I remember watching his dad having to ride down from Luz Ardidens after missing the win. Actually that day, the descend by bike was way faster than bus or car could make

 

[Jelantik]

Also Sorensen and Zaugg seem to be in decent shape, finally!

Looks like all saxo boys are in the shape of their life. Maybe the program finally shows some results. Roche looks really lean compare to his tour body. I was so happy to see Roche won. Finally! Morkov today... bravo. Way to start the vuelta. 6 days in to la vuelta - 2 stage win. Not too shabby..

 

[jyhjyh]

Diary for 29th August and Michael Morkov's win

http://www.independent.ie/sport/oth...ied-hare-with-five-metres-to-go-29538537.html

 

[Carstenbf]

Also Sorensen and Zaugg seem to be in decent shape, finally!

Don't know about Zaugg, but Nicki was in stellar form late spring. Still beyond me why he wasn't at the Tour. Guess he faded early, but hard to say after skipping Giro to prepare 100% for TdF.

 

[Carstenbf]

Oops, this is the Nic Roche thread I see.

I agree with the people saying to tone down the GC aspirations for actual wins. Don't see him podium a GT really, but the guy is pretty fast, and a can think of a plethora of races/stages he could contend.

 

[trevim]

Don't know about Zaugg, but Nicki was in stellar form late spring. Still beyond me why he wasn't at the Tour. Guess he faded early, but hard to say after skipping Giro to prepare 100% for TdF.

I meant Chris Anker not Nicki who is one of the most reliable riders of the team. Chris was supposed to be a good climber but he's failing this last few years.

 

[Carstenbf]

Ah, my mistake.

Agreed.

 

[Jelantik]

NICHOOOOOOOO... IN RED!!!!!!.... he wanted to wear yellow jersey on his birthday, but it didn't happen. At least now he can wear red... enjoy it Nicho. Looks like saxo boys now is riding for majka and nicho. Time for roman to hunt for stage win.

 

[Gloin22]

NICHOOOOOOOO... IN RED!!!!!!.... he wanted to wear yellow jersey on his birthday, but it didn't happen. At least now he can wear red... enjoy it Nicho. Looks like saxo boys now is riding for majka and nicho. Time for roman to hunt for stage win.

That was the plan from the start. Kreuziger said multiple times GC was not his target, prep for worlds plus stage win is.

Roche is doing great, better than I epxected, his Top 5 in GC target before Vuelta looks much more realistic now. Thing is, will he keep this up..

 

[Carols]

No matter what happens from here on out, Nico has now worn every jersey in the competition It's nice to see him doing so well on Saxo!

 

[HCl+HN03]

I´m surprised. In the Tour he was extremly bad. But I have never seen him this strong before. Due to bad competition he might even podium.

Could be this years Mollema (from 2011).

(Basso is Cobo, and Horner/Zubeldia the SKY-duo - Nibali and Rodriquez is playing themselfs)

 

[Le Baroudeur]

I´m surprised. In the Tour he was extremly bad. But I have never seen him this strong before. Due to bad competition he might even podium.

Could be this years Mollema (from 2011).

(Basso is Cobo, and Horner/Zubeldia the SKY-duo - Nibali and Rodriquez is playing themselfs)

??? He was plenty strong enough in the Tour.

 

[ciranda]

Roche was nowhere in the mountains in the Tour de France, not even early on in the stages. He did lead for like ten minutes between mountains on stage nine, the day Froome was alone. Other than that he was awful. Before the Vuelta he said how he was two kilos overweight in July and was always preparing for the Vuelta, which makes it super strange that he was ever selected for the TDF.

 

[Le Baroudeur]

Roche was nowhere in the mountains in the Tour de France, not even early on in the stages. He did lead for like ten minutes between mountains on stage nine, the day Froome was alone. Other than that he was awful. Before the Vuelta he said how he was two kilos overweight in July and was always preparing for the Vuelta, which makes it super strange that he was ever selected for the TDF.

His job was to lead on the flat and early stage of the climbs...

 

[cocteau_ireland]

Exquisitely delighted for the man. Absolute gent who's reach has always been further than his grasp. Holding it all in his hands now. So deserves this.

 

[HCl+HN03]

??? He was plenty strong enough in the Tour.

No he wasnt, he looked fat and couldnt climb well. We are talking about a top 10 GC guy, not an average domestic.

But if the plan was to peak for Vuelta, and his job in the tour was to do what he did, I guess the team is happy with him. Since the rest of Contadors domestics were at their best, I thought it was planned that way for Roche too.

 

[the asian]

Really surprised to see him in Red. Move to Saxo seems to have paid off.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

No he wasnt, he looked fat and couldnt climb well. We are talking about a top 10 GC guy, not an average domestic.

But if the plan was to peak for Vuelta, and his job in the tour was to do what he did, I guess the team is happy with him. Since the rest of Contadors domestics were at their best, I thought it was planned that way for Roche too.

This is a misunderstanding.

The strategy was all explained in various interviews. Roche was not supposed to be there for the high mountains: That job was assigned to Kreuziger and Rogers. Roche was to be prepared to work on hills, lower slopes of mountans and medium mountain stages. Contador had no possible use for three guys in the high mountains. When Contador needed work done in the bits of the race Roche was assigned to do (which wasn't often but did happen), Roche was there and looked good.

Saxo are well organised when they are riding for Contador and domestiques (particularly their key ones) have quite specific duties. They don't just get told to stick around as long as possible, unless they are in the Kreuziger last man role.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

I like how he's coming across n interviews at the moment: He's setting ambitious goals (eg a top 5) but he's acknowledging that they are ambitious and that he's not the strongest rider in the race. Pessimism of the intellect, optimism of the will and all that.

 

[cocteau_ireland]

I like how he's coming across n interviews at the moment: He's setting ambitious goals (eg a top 5) but he's acknowledging that they are ambitious and that he's not the strongest rider in the race. Pessimism of the intellect, optimism of the will and all that.

That Gramsci quote is exactly how I feel everytime watching Roche!

 

[manafana]

hope the irish dont build him up for fall now, what he has done so far has been amazing.

 

[Jelantik]

I´m surprised. In the Tour he was extremly bad. But I have never seen him this strong before. Due to bad competition he might even podium.

Could be this years Mollema (from 2011).

(Basso is Cobo, and Horner/Zubeldia the SKY-duo - Nibali and Rodriquez is playing themselfs)

At TDF he was 2.5kg heavier than his current vuelta weight. He said, he felt he was coming to form at the end of TDF. Hope he can hang in there. Top 5 is certainly will be good for him. If he can get top 3.. he would be flying to the moon. Go Nichoooo...

 

[maxmartin]

At TDF he was 2.5kg heavier than his current vuelta weight. He said, he felt he was coming to form at the end of TDF. Hope he can hang in there. Top 5 is certainly will be good for him. If he can get top 3.. he would be flying to the moon. Go Nichoooo...

in other words he was using tour to train for the vuelta, I guess good for him. On the other hand, RK was really working his *** off for AC in the Tour and it shows here in the spain. AC has to repay this effort maybe next year ardennes classics.