After a rough patch Nicolas Roche is hitting some solid form and is now 5th overall at the Arctic Race of Norway. But today's stage was won by up and coming cyclocross rider Adam Toupalik.
Nicolas Roche now 5th at Arctic Race of Norway
Nicolas Roche has moved up to 5th overall after a strong finishing effort on stage 3 of the Arctic Race of Norway.
He is now 37 seconds off the race lead and lost 25 seconds on stage 1. He was among those held up by a crash with 200 metres to go in the uphill finish on the opening stage.
Roche pressed hard in pursuit of two leaders just seconds out front on the final 1km climb to the line today.
The BMC racing man was swamped at the death after going perhaps a little too early.
However, he was one of 19 riders credited on the same time some two seconds down on winner Adam Toupalik (Corendon-Circus).
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The 22-year from the Czech Republic seized the day in very impressive fashion.
At the end of 194km from Honningsvåg to the deliciously named stage end town of Hammerfest, Toupalik attacked hard.
He had been clear for most of the stage in a nine-man breakaway, with just three surviving out front in the closing kilometres for the final lap of the lumpy local circuit.
He had Johan Le Bon (Vital Concept) and Robin Carpenter (Rally Cycling) for company. Despite being away for so long, they still had the legs to press hard.
Top down: Astana rode in defence of the race lead. Nicolas Roche gives his thoughts to a TV crew. The eventual stage winner (front left) drives the original escape alongside newly crowned British champion Conor Swift; riding as a stagiaire with Dimension Data.
Going onto the final lap of the 8km circuit the surviving three from the escape had a lead of just 25 seconds. All of the other breakaway men fell back to what remained of the peloton.
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The Astana team of race leader Sergei Chernetski had been most active in the chase in the final third of the stage.
But as the last few kilometres approached Roche’s BMC Racing team could be seen on the front, clearly positioning themselves for a shot at stage victory.
However, as the leaders passed under the red kit with 1km of uphill to the finish line, they still had a very decent margin.
Carpenter tried for a long one from early on the closing ramp but didn’t have the legs. However, up and coming cyclocross star Toupalik was much stronger.
He accelerated and blasted all the way to the line; Roche hitting the front just behind him as the reduced peloton shattered.
In the end Roche drifted back a little and had to settle for 11th. It was stage 1 winner Mathieu Van der Poel who came through strongly to win the sprint for 2nd place.
That delivered an impressive pro road 1-2 for the Corendon-Circus team, which is better known for cyclocross.
Just 19 riders were credited with the same time as van der Poel; Nicolas Roche among them.
And because some of those ahead of him overall this morning ceded time today, he moves up to 5th on general classification with one stage remaining.
Leader looked strong
Race leader Chernetski was 3rd on the stage today, taking some bonus time to extend his advantage at the top of the standings.
He now leads by seven seconds from Markus Hoelgaard (Team Joker Icopal), with Joyce next a further second back.
Danilo Wyss (BMC Racing) is 4th, some 23 seconds down on the leader with Roche 5th at 37 seconds.
Tomorrow’s final stage is 145.5km from Kvalsund to Alta. It features a finishing circuit with two short sharp inclines; nine in all including one to the finish.
It looks like a profile that may suit Roche. He would dearly love a stage win or a top overall finish after a testing time of late.
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