Nicolas Roche has given the national road and time-trial championships a huge boost by confirming he will take part this year.
By Brian Canty
Nicolas Roche has confirmed he will compete in the National Road Championships in Blessington four weeks from Sunday.
The Team Sky rider is currently riding the Giro d'Italia and as well as announcing the venue for this year's championships this morning, Roche confirmed he would be on the start-line as well.
It's a major lift for the race promoters, Orwell Wheelers, who were last week rocked by the news the race's original venue in Phoenix Park had to be cancelled because of US vice-president Joe Biden's impending visit the same weekend as the nationals.
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Exact details of the route are yet to be confirmed but they will be made clearer as the championships draw nearer.
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Roche's participation is a massive coup for the event, particularly as he missed the title race 12 months ago.
In that instance, he deemed it incompatible with his race programme which saw him ride the Criterium du Dauphine and the Tour de France.
However, as he will not be doing the Dauphiné this time around, a window opened for him to compete in the country's biggest one-day race - and he was only too glad to oblige.
He is hugely popular in Ireland and his honest blogging throughout the season and no-frills style approach has won him legions of followers.
It is not yet clear whether the likes of Dan Martin, Philip Deignan, Sam Bennett or Matt Brammeier will ride. Ryan Mullen looks set for both the time-trial and the road race.
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