Nicolas Roche was best of the Irish today in the final stage of the Volta ao Algarve; a 25.8km TT.
The Ag2r rider had started the day in 11th position on GC just 45 seconds off the yellow jersey of Team Sky’s Richie Porte.
However, he ceded time to his main GC rivals in the TT; finishing the stage 1:27 down on winner Bradley Wiggins (Team Sky) and slipping down the GC standings to 14th.
Having taken fifth in the opening stage sprint finish and 11th on the queen stage on Friday, it was a very decent stage race start to the season by Roche.
It normally takes him a while to build form and he seems to be in good condition as he builds his condition for Paris-Nice.
Also fairing reasonably well this week in the Volta ao Algarve was Philip Deignan; riding his first race in the colours of Unitedhealthcare.
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While he could only manage 73rd today, losing 2:51, he is not a TT rider and is also still shaking off the effects of a chest infection.
He told stickybottle during the week that while his condition is not as good as some of the leading riders, he is confident that will improve.
Following the abandonment of the race by An Post-Sean Kelly’s Connor McConvey two days ago, the only other Irish rider left today was Ronan McLaughlin. He was 100th on the TT stage, 3:37 down. However, he put in a good show on the hilly stage last Friday, going on the attack for much of it.
Best of the An Posts today was Lithuanian TT champion Gediminas Bagdonas, who was 47th at 2:10.
(See results below.)
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Stage Five - 25.8km TT
1. Bradley Wiggins (GBR) Team Sky 32'48"
2. Tony Martin (GER) OmegaPharma-QuickStep s.t.
3. Richie Porte (Aus) Team Sky at 13"
4. Tejay van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing at 14"
5. Jesse Sergent (NZL) RadioShack-Nissan s.t.
6. Jurgen van den Broeck (BEL) Lotto-Beliosl at 29"
29. Nicolas Roche (IRL) AG2R-La Mondiale at 1'27"
47. Gediminas Bagdonas (LTU) An Post at 2'10"
60. Niels Wytinck (BEL) An Post at 2'35"
66. Mark Christian (GBR) An Post at 2'42"
73. Philip Deignan (IRL) United Healthcare at 2'51"
96. Pieter Ghyllebert (BEL) An Post at 3'30"
100. Ronan McLoughlin (IRL) An Post at 3'37"
Final GC
1. Richie Porte (AUS) Team Sky 19:02:43
2. Tony Martin (GER) Omega Pharma-QuickStep at 37"
3. Bradley Wiggins (GBR) Team Sky at 44"
4. Jurgen Van Den Broeck (BEL) Lotto-Belisol at 50"
5. Rui Costa (POR) Movistar at 58"
6. Tiago Machado (POR) RadioShack-Nissan at 1'02"
14. Nicolas Roche (IRL) AG2R-La Mondiale at 2'08"
34. Philip Deignan (IRL) United Healthcare at 4'17"
64. Pieter Ghyllebert (BEL) An Post at 9'03"
76. Mark Christian (GBR) An Post at 11'26"
114. Gediminas Bagdonas (LTU) An Post at 22'42"
120. Ronan McLoughlin (IRL) An Post at 23'46"
133. Niels Wytinck (BEL) An Post at 27'17
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