Nicolas Roche looked superb today on the fourth stage of the Giro d'Italia, crossing the line in 10th and moving up to ninth overall. The Team Sky man was one of just 25 riders who finished in the front group, six seconds behind stage winner Diego Ulissi (Lampre-Merida)
Nicolas Roche is up to ninth overall at the Giro d’Italia after a brilliant display on the fourth stage of the race this afternoon.
The Team Sky man was right in the mix as the peloton moved its way towards the finish in Praia a Mare after a 200-kilometre trek from Catanzaro.
A savage pace at the front of the race set by a number of teams in the last 75 kilometres saw overnight race leader Marcel Kittel dropped and the Etixx-QuickStep man would concede over eight minutes to stage winner Diego Ulissi (Lampre-Merida).
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The Italian went solo in the final 10 kilometres and rode out of his skin to hold off a fast-finishing front group, which had Roche right towards its nose.
In fact, there were three Sky men in there, with team leader Mikel Landa and fellow Spaniard David Lopez also present.
Just 25 riders came to the line in that front group, though they were five seconds too slow for Ulissi who took his fifth ever Giro stage – and arguably his finest.
It wasn’t enough to see him take the race leader’s pink jersey, though he did jump up to third overall.
Tom Dumoulin had the honour of donning the famed maglia rosa once again while just behind him in second is fellow Dutchman Bob Jungels of Etixx-QuickStep.
Roche was 10th over the line, six seconds behind Ulissi and that is his best result of the race so far.
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He has also given the clearest indication yet that he’s in mean condition for this three-week Grand Tour.
He’s in the race to support Landa but the fact he is now up to ninth he could yet prove to be Team Sky’s trump card, should Landa fade.
The other Irishman in the race, Philip Deignan, finished 1:11 down in 59th and he’s now 69th at 4:52.
Tomorrow’s stage will see the riders travel 233 kilometres from Praia a Mare to Benevento and it’s a day that looks likely to be decided by a bunch sprint.
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