Nicolas Roche seems to have his knee injury and his early programme sorted; seen here at his recent team presentation in Gran Canaria.
Nicolas Roche has decided to remain on at the location of his Tinkoff-Saxo team’s training camp in Gran Canaria until the week after next and says the knee injury he has been nursing of late is “almost 100 per cent”.
The problem had forced him of the bike for a short period around the turn of the New Year and led to fears of the Vuelta 2013 stage winner being sidelined for a longer period and perhaps suffering in the early season as a result and delaying his return to racing.
Because he is planning an early peak for the Giro d’Italia which starts in Belfast in May, and where he hopes to be a team leader, any interruption to his training at this time would perhaps have had bigger implications than in previous years when he has aimed hit top form later in the year.
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However, today he revealed he would remain training in Gran Canaria until February 10th.
His first competitive outing will be at the Tour of Oman, which runs from February 18th to 22nd and includes some hilly stages, including the summit finish on the punishing Green Mountain.
He will then follow that up with the Tirreno-Adriatico, with runs in Italy from March 12th to 18th and will provide good preparation for the Giro.
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However, before that three week race starts on Friday, May 9th, in Belfast Roche will also ride the one-day classic Milan San Remo, which unfolds in all its glory on March 23rd.
Nicolas Roche had an amazing Vuelta last season - winning a stage and holding the race lead, not to mention all of the other classification jerseys at different times throughout the three week event. He is hoping his recent injury-related lay off won't impact his plans to be in top form for the Giro start in Ireland in May. Seen here in the Vuelta 2013 climbers’ jersey.
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