Nicolas Roche forced out of Catalunya | Sticky Bottle

*Nicolas Roche has been forced onto the sidelines pending Covid-19 testing after coming into contact with a team staff member who has been diagnosed with the virus*

Nicolas Roche was forced out of Volta Ciclista a Catalunya (2.UWT) before today’s stage 2 TT after he had contact with staff member within his team who has since tested positive for Covid-19.

Team DSM said after one of the staff tested for Covid-19,
Roche and Casper Pedersen had to be withdrawn from their planned races because
they had been in contact with the staff member.

While Roche has been forced to leave Catalunya pending tests
for the virus, Pedersen will not be able to start the E3 Saxo Bank Classic (1.UWT)
in Belgium on Friday.

It was a disappointing development for Roche, who rode Milan-Sanremo on Saturday before starting the week-long Volta Ciclista a Catalunya yesterday and placing 16th on the opening stage. However, Team DSM said both Roche and Pedersen were feeling well and race plans for them would be reviewed after they had undergone tests for Covid-19.

Meanwhile, during today’s stage in Catalunya Dan Martin
lost significant time to some of the other general classification men in the
field.

The Irishman, riding for Israel Start-Up Nation, placed
52nd some 1:30 down on stage winner Rohan Dennis, who was taking his first win
since the TT at the Worlds in 2019.

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Dennis (Ineos Grenadiers) was victorious on today’s 18.5km stage by five seconds from Rémi Cavagna (Deceuninck-QuickStep). João Almeida (Deceuninck-QuickStep) was 3rd at 28 seconds, on the same time as Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates).

Almeida took the race lead and now holds the leader’s jersey from McNulty, with both on the same time.

*Rohan Dennis on his way to victory today; his first win since claiming the TT world title in 2019*

Dan Martin is now in 40th place overall, some 1:02 down on the race leader, though his team mate Michael Woods lost even more time today and is 52nd at 1:15. Another of the team’s riders, Chris Froome, was 90th in today’s test, some 2:05 down on Dennis.

In the battle for
GC, while Almeida and McNulty are on equal time at the top, other big names
have stayed in contention and are poised to pounce; Ineos Grenadiers especially
well-placed.

Steven Kruijswijk (Jumbo-Visma) is 4th at just five seconds, Richie Porte (Ineos
Grenadiers) is 5th at six seconds, Adam Yates (Ineos Grenadiers) is 6th at seven seconds and Geraint
Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) is 8th at 19 seconds.

Tomorrow’s stage 3 is 203km, taking the riders from Canal Olimpic de Catalunya to the HC summit finish at Vallter 2000.