Nicolas Roche says there is nothing stopping Team Sky putting its trust in him in the Vuelta this year; seen here with father Stephen and Chris Froome.
With the new season having already begun for the professional riders, Nicolas Roche has said his move to a Team Sky packed with big names does rule out the possibility he will lead the squad in a Grand Tour.
Speaking at the team’s training camp in Mallorca, Roche said he was hopeful of being co-leader at the Vuelta in August-September.
“There’s nothing wrong with having two riders going in for (general classification) in a Grand Tour,” he said.
“Hopefully I could be a back-up plan in the Vuelta. It’s a race that suits me.
“I love racing the Vuelta. I have always enjoyed Tour-Vuelta. It’s a combination that suits me.
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“I really missed doing the Vuelta last year. I’m really happy to be doing the double, regardless of my role.”
Roche and Froome riding together in Mallorca; the calm before the long hard storm gets underway.
Last year Chris Froome, the clear leader of Team Sky, went into the Vuelta hoping to win after crashing out of the Tour de France in July.
In the end he managed 2nd place before Roche’s then team leader at Tinkoff-Saxo Alberto Contador.
In 2011, then relatively unknown, Froome had his breakthrough ride in the Vuelta when he finished 2nd overall.
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It was a major surprise considering his only three Grand Tour appearances resulted in 83rd in the 2008 Tour de France and 34th in the 2009 Giro before being disqualified from that event for towing in 2010.
And while Froome returned to the Vuelta in 2012, when he took 4th, before his runner up spot last year; if he wins the Tour de France this year he is less likely to ride the race a couple of months later.
That could leave the door open for Roche, though Richie Porte would also have his eye on team leadership.
Roche was leader of the Vuelta for a stage in 2013, won stage 2 and wore most of the classification jerseys in the event.
But long before that race is fought out, Roche will focus on Team Sky’s main priority for the year; helping Froome win his second Tour de France.
“The Tour is such a special race,” Roche said.
“I just like going to the Tour, and we’re going there with great ambitions, fighting for the overall victory with Froome.
“I have a good feeling about this year. I feel I could be very useful as a top team-mate with Chris in the Tour. It could be an exciting role.”
He believed the race would come down to head-to-head between Froome and Contador.
But he believed numerous others, including reigning champion Vincenzo Nibali (Astana), would also figure prominently.
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