Nicolas Roche has led the Vuelta and won two stages. He's come into form of late and is named in the BMC Racing line-up for the Spanish Grand Tour.
Nicolas Roche in BMC Racing Vuelta 2018 team
Ireland's Nicolas Roche has been named in the BMC Racing selection to ride the Vuelta. His participation has been confirmed in a statement by the team on Monday.
"I'm looking forward to racing at the Vuelta a España again," Roche said after his place was confirmed.
"This will be my eighth edition of the race and I always enjoy racing it. I also have a lot of good memories from this race and I have always gone well here."
Roche had a difficult early season when he was forced to abandon the Giro. More recently he went to the Tour of Poland where illness forced him out after three stages.
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However, he returned in full health at the Arctic Race of Norway. He claimed 5th overall when the event finished yesterday.
Roche was one of the aggressors of the race, pushing the pace at key moments in the crosswinds and on the climbs.
He would have finished higher overall had he not lost 25 seconds when he got caught behind a late crash on stage 1.
Nicolas Roche was on the Vuelta long list before Norway. But his performance over the last four days always looked like it would secure him a place in the team for Spain.
He has won two stages in the Vuelta in the past and also held the leader’s red jersey.
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Top down: Nicolas Roche on the attack on Vuelta stage 19 last year. Winning stage 18 in 2015. In the climbers jersey in 2013 racing against the clock.
This year the BMC Racing team is led by Richie Porte. The Australian is coming back after crashing out of the Tour de France last month.
As well as Porte and Roche, the team also includes: Brent Bookwalter, Alessandro De Marchi, Rohan Dennis, Joey Rosskopf, Dylan Teuns and Francisco Ventoso.
Nicolas Roche Vuelta record
Roche was 2nd on stage 17 of the Vuelta in 2008; beaten in a sprint from the breakaway by Imanol Erviti (Caisse d’Epargne).
That year he claimed three top 10 placings on stages and finished 13th overall. He took seven top 10 placings in the Vuelta in 2010 on his way to 6th overall.
He was then in the top ten four times in the Vuelta in 2011 and was 16th overall. The following year, 2012, when he was 12th overall with four top 10s.
In 2013 he took 11 top ten results, including his win on stage 2. He would also go on to finish 5th overall and held the leader’s jersey for a day.
In 2015 he took eight top 10s at the Vuelta, including victory on stage 18.
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