Philip Deignan in the middle of his effort on the stage 9 TT at the Giro d'Italia. Team Sky's overall challenge is now taking shape (Photo: Sirotti)
By Brian Canty
Nicolas Roche’s focus for the remainder of the Giro d’Italia was more certain after Sunday's stage 9 time-trial saw him drop to 28th overall.
The Team Sky rider lost 4:18 to stage winner Primoz Roglic (LottoNL-Jumbo) on the lumpy 40.5-kilometre course that started and finished in Chianti.
More significantly, he’s 6:47 down on race leader Gianluca Brambilla (Etixx-QuickStep).
Roche’s teammate Mikel Landa rode superbly and is now up to eighth overall, meaning the Irishman’s job - and that of compatriot Philip Deignan - will be fixed entirely on moving him even further up the general classification.
If that plan goes awry, we can expect to see Deignan and Roche go on the attack.
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Though that looks unlikely for now after Landa's ride of yesterday.
The Team Sky leader was fearful the TT may hinder his hopes of winning the race outright.
And his very strong test will reaffirm Team Sky's confidence that all of the team's efforts should be put behind him.
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Roche, like many in the race, was caught out by the rain and lost more time than he would have liked though is not riding for the overall (Photo: Sirotti)
With heavy rain falling on the course for his effort yesterday, Roche rolled around the roads in a time of 56:03.
It was clear that anyone unlucky to be caught in the deluge would lose big time.
Deignan went 14 seconds slower than Roche but both have been in great form this season after troubled spells during the winter.
And having already ridden strongly for Landa since the start of this Giro, their team leader's form looks to be holding.
That's good news for the team but means the Irishmen will likely not get the nod from management to have a go at getting personal results on the stages that may suit them best.
The racing continues today, Monday, with the 219-kilometre stage 10 from Campi Bisenzio to Sestola.
The stage winner yesterday, Roglic is a relative newcomer to big time pro cycling.
He surprised many with his power as he ripped around the course, albeit in dry conditions, clocking a time of 51:45.
However, he had finished 2nd in the opening TT last Friday week to signal his potential at this Giro.
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