Magnificent Roche conquers Col du Tourmalet, Col d’Aspin for Route du Sud stage & yellow

That's how he rolls! Nicolas Roche has plenty of time to celebrate his queen stage win on the Route du Sud. He assumes the yellow jersey with overall victory now in his grasp.

A crash and costly wait by the side of the road in the first part of last month's Giro d'Italia may have taken a wrecking ball to Nicholas Roche's main early season goal, but the Irish international has bounced back in fine style today with a win in France and the yellow jersey at the Route du Sud.

The Tinkoff-Saxo man, who was hit with injury worries in the build up to this season, was the clear winner atop the tough Val Louron today on a stage that also took the riders over the mammoth Col du Tourmalet and Col d’Aspin.

“I’m really satisfied and happy with this victory,” a delighted Roche said of his first win since taking stage 2 of last year’s Vuelta.

“It’s amazing that all the hard work has finally paid off with a victory, which is of course one of my main goals during the season besides supporting my teammates.

“It was a super tough stage today with many of the climbs you’ll normally see in the Tour and a strong competition to make it even more difficult.

“But we managed to pull it off today. It confirms that I’ve recovered after the Giro and that I’m ready for the Tour.”

An early breakaway went clear and got several minutes on the 178.6km stage from Bagnères de Bigorre to the summit of Val Louron.

However, Roche’s team mate’s were riding on the front to try and set up him for victory after his 4th place on yesterday’s opener.

The Movistar team, whose Jesus Herrada won by six seconds yesterday from team mate Alejandro Valverde, were also active on the front and by the time the final climb started just a few of the early escapees were out front and being reeled in fast.

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“Edward Beltran worked really hard and maintained a high tempo on the climb,” Roche said.

“He really hurt a lot of guys out there today. With 5km to go, Edward pulled off the front and I attacked straight away knowing that Michael (Rogers) was ready in the group of favourites just behind me as a second option.

“So I had the confidence to just put everything at stake and go 100 percent for the win.”

He pulled well clear and by the finish had 45 seconds on the best of the rest, with team mate Rogers taking 2nd; the Australian clearly still in great form from the Giro where he took two stage wins.

Roche now leads with just one stage remaining and is looking very good for the overall win.

More later.