Nicolas Roche tackles the Bergen Worlds TT climb of Mount Fløyen on his way to his best ever result at a Worlds (All photos by Sean Rowe)
Nicolas Roche content with 12th in Bergen Worlds TT
Ireland’s sole representative in the elite men’s TT at the World Championships, Nicolas Roche said he was happy with how it went.
He would take 12th place in Bergen today; his best ever result at a Worlds.
And he believes the inclusion of the 3.4km Mount Fløyen climb at the end of the 31km test suited him very well.
“I left it all out on the road, and I’m happy enough with how today went,” he said.
“I would have liked to break into the top ten, symbolically. But tenth, twelfth; it’s much the same.”
“The climb is the bit that worked out best for me, compared to the real time-trial specialist,” he said.
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He added of the testing final: “I didn’t lose as much time on the climb to them as I did on the flatter bits, so it suited me.
“That’s my best finish at the World’s so far – I was thirteenth in 2013, so I’m happy with twelfth today.”
And clearly buoyed by his strong showing on what was arguably the hardest ever Worlds TT course, he said he was looking forward to Sunday’s road race.
Ireland has qualified six places in the event. And fill those spots alongside Roche are Dan Martin, Sean McKenna, Damian Shaw, Conor Dunne and Ryan Mullen.
“The road race is very open, and it always a different race. It’s good to have such a big team racing this year,” said Roche.
“It’s the first time that I remember having such a big number starting. I’m going into this year’s race with a different mindset.
“I’m going to take it kilometre by kilometre and see how it goes.”
There is no racing in Bergen tomorrow, Thursday; the traditional rest day between TTs and road races.
On Friday five Irish riders will be competing in the 191km men’s U23 road race. They are Mark Downey, Daire Feely, Darragh O’Mahony, Adam Stenson and Matthew Teggart.
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