Nicolas Roche and the cobbles of the Arenberg Forest just before he jumped on Oleg Tinkoff's private jet, photos below, to fly to the UK. He was in northern France today to check out some of the cobbles that will feature in stage 5 of the Tour next week.
You have to hand it to Nicolas Roche and his boys at the Tinkoff-Saxo team; they certainly know how to travel in style.
After going to northeastern France to ride some of the cobbles that will feature in stage 5 of the Tour de France next week, the riders didn't mess about queuing in an airport to catch a flight to the UK for the race start this weekend.
Instead, they jumped aboard a private jet owned by team owner Oleg Tinkoff and made flew VIP to the UK, where the first three stages of the race will be held.
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And if our photos below, the riders looked like they enjoyed themselves traveling in style.
The team named for the Tour includes: Alberto Contador, Michael Rogers, Nicolas Roche, Rafal Majka, Jesús Hernandez, Sergio Paulinho, Daniele Bennati, Matteo Tosatto, Michael Mørkøv.
One noticeable absentee is Roman Kreuziger, who was 5th overall in the Tour last year and has ridden very strongly so far this year, including taking 8th overall in the recent Tour de Suisse.
He has been withdrawn from racing as he fights a charge from the UCI of violations of its anti-doping rules due to abnormalities detected in his biological passport in 2011 and 2012.
He has staunchly defended himself, saying the changes in his profile do not represent an abnormality and insisting that he has never taken drugs.
While not suspended from racing, his team have withdrawn him from competition as he fights the allegations and until more information becomes available.
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Alberto Contador leads the riders as they check out the cobbles from Paris Roubaix that will feature in the Tour de France, which starts in just a few days. Nicolas Roche and his team mates then jumped onto team owner Oleg Tinkoff's private jet to travel to the UK, the scene of this weekend's Grand Départ.
The riders pose for a photo while still on the tarmac in France just about to leave for the UK; Roche is third from the right.
Nice work if you can get it; the riders on board Tinkoff's jet for their luxury arrival in Yorkshire ahead of three weeks of pain in which Contador will be looking to win the final yellow jersey. Roche is third from left, among the riders furthest from the camera. Team owner Oleg Tinkoff is standing at the back.
The team's big hope for the Tour de France, Alberto Contador poses for a shot with the crew in charge of the controls on Tinkoff's plane.
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