Roche is feeling a bit frustrated but is riding very well at the Vuelta
Nicolas Roche (Ag2r La Mondiale) has revealed his frustration that his efforts to take a stage win at the Vuelta have failed to pay off yet, saying he is hoping he doesn’t blow in the days ahead after riding hard in the opening week of the race.
Writing in his Irish Independent Vuelta diary yesterday, Monday, he implied he was focussed on going for a stage win in recent days rather than exclusively riding for GC.
“This week I've tried three times to go for stages and today was one of the stages I was hoping to get a top result in. I've never tried so many times to win a stage but it's just not working and I'm really p*****d off.”
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“When I attack, I'm trying to go for stage wins, but all I've had is a fifth, a ninth, 11th and 12th. I suppose at least I've been showing some aggressive riding and hopefully the people at home supporting me will see I'm putting the effort in. I just hope that I'm not trying too hard and all this doesn't blow up in my face in the final week.”
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Roche added that when he got away on the final climb just before the finish into Barcelona on Sunday, race leader Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) “sailed” past him with eventual stage winner Philippe Gilbert (BMC) chasing hard after him.
While he held Gilbert to within five seconds at the 2km to go mark, once the road turned for the descent off the climb to head towards the finish and he had not closed down the leaders he knew the game was up.
“I'm pretty p*****d off that I didn't have the legs to be able to be with Gilbert and Rodriguez, even if they are two of the best in the world at these type of finishes.”
He said the bunch flew past at the 1.2km mark and he had to throw himself onto the wheels to stay in with them.
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