Judging by his performance at the Tour of Britain, Nicolas Roche can be optimistic of a good ride again at the European championships in France this week.
By Brian Canty
Nicolas Roche has taken a very solid sixth overall on general classification at the Tour of Britain, finishing 1:26 behind winner Steve Cummings (Dimension Data).
The Irish national road and time-trial champion was superb all week and after Saturday’s time-trial where he finished eighth behind winner Tony Martin (Etixx-QuickStep) he consolidated his lofty position with two solid back-to-back road rides.
On yesterday's final stage he was 22nd at the end of the 100–kilometre contest that started and finished in London.
It was always going to be a day for the sprinters but Roche still had business to take care of as there were numerous splits on the stage.
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Caleb Ewan (Orica BikeExchange) took the honours from Dutch national champion Dylan Groenewegen (LottoNL-Jumbo) with Jens Debusschere (Lotto Soudal) rounding out the podium.
Caleb Ewan wins the final stage in London as Steve Cummings retained the yellow jersey to win the race outright (Photo: Tour of Britain)
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Roche stayed right towards the front towards the finish, ensuring he lost no time as trailing him by just 22 seconds on GC was Belgian Xandro Meurisse (Wanty Groupe gobert).
Two places ahead of Roche was Ryan Mullen (Cannondale Drapac) in 20th and that is another very good ride by him after his ninth-place in the time-trial on Saturday.
He was 80th overall at 53:20 but that GC position won’t concern him in the slightest as he now turns his attention to the time-trial at the European Championships this week in France.
Dan Martin was 59th yesterday at 37 seconds and he ended the race 13th overall 5:10.
Damien Shaw finished 1:14 down while the other Irishman in the race, Conor Dunne (JLT Condor Cycles) was at 2:20.
The latter is headed for France this week as part of the Irish team for the road race at the Euros while Shaw is most likely to get the call to fill the fifth spot on the team. We will have news on that selection on Tuesday.
They were 96th (1:07:11) and 98th overall (1:09:40).
Tour of Britain: Stage 8, London (100km)
1 Caleb Ewan (Aus) Orica-BikeExchange 2:09:24
2 Dylan Groenewegen (Ned) LottoNL-Jumbo @s/t
3 Jens Debusschere (Bel) Lotto-Soudal @s/t
4 Boy van Poppel (Ned) Trek-Segafredo @s/t
5 Elia Viviani (Ita) Team Sky @s/t
6 André Greipel (Ger) Lotto-Soudal @s/t
7 Daniel McLay (GBr) Great Britain @s/t
8 Steele Von Hoff (Aus) One Pro Cycling @s/t
9 Nicola Ruffoni (Ita) Bardiani-CSF @s/t
10 Paolo Simion (Ita) Bardiani-CSF@s/t
20 Ryan Mullen (Cannondale-Drapac)
22 Nicolas Roche (Team Sky) @s/t
59 Dan Martin (Etixx-QuickStep) at 37 secs
76 Damien Shaw (An Post Chain Reaction) at 1:14
91 Conor Dunne (JLT-Condor Cycles) at 2:20
Final General Classification
1 Steve Cummings (GBr) Dimension Data 31:30:45
2 Rohan Dennis (Aus) BMC Racing at 26 secs
3 Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Giant-Alpecin at 38 secs
4 Tony Gallopin (Fra) Lotto-Soudal at 1:02
5 Dylan van Baarle (Ned) Cannondale-Drapac at 1:21
6 Nicolas Roche (Irl) Team Sky at 1:26
7 Xandro Meurisse (Bel) Wanty-Groupe Gobert at 1:48
8 Ben Swift (GBr) Team Sky at 1:52
9 Julien Vermote (Bel) Etixx-QuickStep at 2:12
10 Jacopo Mosca (Ita) Trek-Segafredo at 2:32
13 Dan Martin (Etixx-QuickStep) at 5:10
80 Ryan Mullen (Cannondale-Drapac) at 53:20
96 Damien Shaw (An Post Chain Reaction) at 1:07:01
98 Conor Dunne (JLT-Condor Cycles) at 1:09:40
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