Nicolas Roche has his training camp into his legs and lungs. He says he's ready for his fourth Giro. And now BMC has set out the plans for the Irish rider and co-leader Rohan Dennis (Photo: BMC-Chris Auld)
BMC sets out Giro d’Italia plans for Nicolas Roche
Having been ensconced in a training camp in recent weeks, Nicolas Roche says he is ready to go for the Giro d’Italia.
And his BMC Racing team says Roche will ride for general classification; assessing his goals after the opening week.
The Irish rider was today confirmed in the team’s line-up for the race, as expected.
Team sports director Max Sciandri said Roche and Rohan Dennis would lead the team into the three-week race.
It gets underway with a 9.7km TT in Jerusalem this Friday; a race Dennis is one of the favourites for.
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However, Roche will climb better and has in the past been very consistent over the full three weeks of a Grand Tour.
“Nicolas Roche also has general classification ambitions,” said Sciandri.
“And (he) is looking to see where he can end up. After the Mount Etna stage in the first week, we will see how Nicolas is going.”
That stage, the sixth of the race, will unfold next Thursday. It takes the riders 164km from Caltanissetta to Mount Etna.
Roche said he was really keen to get what will be the fourth Giro of his career underway.
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“I’m looking forward to getting the Giro d’Italia started,” said the Irishman. “I want to race aggressively and see how I go in the general classification.
“We always say we want to take things day by day. But in my case that really is the truth at this Giro.
“Typically, I’m better later in the season so I am keen to see how I go.”
Sciandri says the first big goal for the team was the TT; Rohan Dennis the man being tipped to deliver.
“It’s a technical course, lots of turns, and a good time trial profile for Rohan Dennis,” the manager said.
“We want to start the Giro d’Italia with a good result there and then move on to our other objectives.”
He added with Roche and Dennis keen to do a general classification ride, the team would assess them as the race progresses.
“There are quite a few uphill finishes in the first ten days so we will know more by then and of course.
“Stage wins will be a big focus for us and we have riders suited to many different stages.
“In Jürgen Roelandts and Jempy Drucker, we have two fast sprinters who can do well in a reduced bunch sprint or from a breakaway.
“Alessandro De Marchi is a proven breakaway specialist and he is coming out of the Ardennes Classics in good shape.
“Francisco Ventoso brings a wealth of experience and will be our road captain throughout the race.
“With Loïc Vliegen and Kilian Frankiny we have two young riders who have already raced the Vuelta a Espana last year.
“The Giro d’Italia will be a good chance for them to gain more experience and take any opportunities that come their way.
“Overall, we have a well-rounded team and I think we can make a lot of our objectives a reality.”
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