Nicolas Roche crash and roadside wait for new bike end Giro classification hopes

Nicolas Roche cut a sorry figure at the end of Giro d'Italia stage 6 this evening after a crash on the road to Montecassino cost him 15 minutes and any chance of a high general classification place in this year's race.

Nicolas Roche’s hopes of challenging for overall honours at this year’s Giro d’Italia were ended on stage 6 yesterday, Thursday. During the 257km route from Sassano to Montecassino, crashes 11km from the finish up a cat 2 ascent caused carnage.

The Irishman was a faller and his bad luck was compounded by damaging his bike in that smash and being forced to wait for a prolonged period at the roadside for a new mount.

By the time he got back up and running, the eight-man winning breakaway had pulled clear and was charging into the foot of the final 8.5km ascent pursued by a group containing some of the main favourites.

Roche eventually came home in the grupetto some 15:08 down on a quarter of riders who fought it out for stage honours.

Philip Deignan of Team Sky fared slightly better, finishing in a group 7:43 down which also included faller and big loser on the day, maglia rosa contender Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha).

With the early breakaway just caught, the decisive moment came 11km from the finish when the crash carnage caused a split in the peloton that saw eight riders go clear in rainy conditions and treacherous roads.

In that escape were the resurgent Cadel Evans (BMC) and his fellow Australian and race leader Michael Matthews (Orica-GreenEDGE).

Reasoning that the racing was going forward at the time of the spill, neither man felt obliged to knock off the pace and let back on those who had fallen.

And with both having team mates in the front group who rode themselves into the ground as far as they could up the closing climb, the leaders had pulled out some 48 seconds on the main chase group by the finish.

Regarded as a pure sprinter until now, Michael Matthews has had a great couple of days to retain his leader's jersey and take a Giro stage win. He has shown along the way that he can sprint, climb and suffer. His riding has been reminiscent of a young Sean Kelly (Photo: Sirotti)

Among the pursuers were 2012 winner Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin Sharp) and pre race favourites Domenico Pozzovivo (Ag2r La Mondiale), Rigoberto Uran Uran (Omega Pharma-Quickstep) and Nairo Quintana (Movistar).

Up front, Matthews won the stage in the leader’s jersey from Tim Wellens (Lotto Belisol), with Evans in 3rd and Matteo Rabottini (Yellow Fluo) in 4th.

Matthews retains his lead after a great ride on Wednesday in hunting down Rodriguez on the climb to the finish and going even better yesterday.

Related News

Lara Gillespie attacks Dolomite stage as Giro hits high mountains

Video - Italy's hero Balsamo mobbed mid-stage during Giro TT

They were both astute rides worthy of the race leadership and reminiscent of Sean Kelly, with the Australian former U23 world champion showing he can sprint, climb and suffer.

He now has 21 second over Evans, who between yesterday and last Friday’s team time trial has gained more time on his rivals for final victory than he could have dreamt of before last weekend’s start in Belfast.

Uran Uran is in third place overall despite yesterday’s losses, but he is 1:18 down on Matthews and 57 seconds down on Evans. Roche’s team mate Rafa Majka, who finished in the main chase group yesterday, is now 4th at 1:25.

After that the next big favourite Quintana is 11th, at 2:08, with Pozzovivo in 14th at 2:11 and another casualty of the wet and slippy finale yesterday Michele Scarponi (Astana) 17th at 2:28.

Deignan is biding his time to try for a stage win in the final week. Pre-race he had planned to lose time and try to ease himself into the three week event as best he can after an early season sidelined by a broken collar bone. It means he will not be concerned about yesterday’s time losses.

However, Roche had long planned an assault on the general classification here and so yesterday was a disaster.

His director sportif, Lars Michaelson said the team would now re-appraise its plans for him.

“Nicolas crashed and has wounds and cuts on his lower left side,” he said.

“He’ll need a couple of days but the doctor says that it’s superficial. But he’ll need a couple of days to get rid of the pain before he’s back at full strength again.

“Then he will be a very important part in supporting Majka and going for a stage win.”

May 9th-June 1st: Giro d’Italia

May 15th: Stage 6, Sassano to Montecassino (257km)

General Classification