Photo: Theresa Gunn
Nicolas Roche (Ag2r) has finished 10th overall in the Tour de Suisse after going on the attack on the closing part of today's final stage in an effort to gain as much time as possible for an even higher GC finish.
With two hors cat climbs and the finish atop a cat 2 ascent, today's stage was always going to be aggressive as riders still very close together at the top of the overalll classification tried to dislodge leader Rui Alberto Faria Da Costa (Movistar).
Roche was dropped on the second last climb of the day, the Glaubenberg with over 40km remaining, as second placed man on GC Frank Schleck (Radioshack-Nissan) began attacking.
The Irishman got back on before the top of the climb and then later on the stage he jumped away from the group containing the main favourites. However, having started today in 13th spot overall he was not let get too far before being reabsorbed. He eventually finished 14th on the stage and gained enough time on some of his rivals to jump to 10th on the final classification.
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He said coming into the race that he was seeking a top ten finish and his ride this week, when he climbed well, will give him confidence for the Tour de France which starts in a fortnight.
Before that though, he will ride the National Road Race Championships in Clonmel next Sunday.
Stage 9
Näfels-Lintharena - Sörenberg 215.8km
1 Tanel Kangert (Astana) 5:54:22
2 Jérémy Roy (FDJ-Big Mat) @2secs
3 Matteo Montaguti (AG2R La Mondiale) @31
4 Robert Kiserlovski (Astana) @1:46
5 Steven Kruijswijk (Rabobank)
6 Mathias Frank (BMC Racing)
7 Chris Anker Sörensen (Saxo Bank)
8 Frank Schleck (RadioShack-Nissan) @1:48
9 Robert Gesink (Rabobank)
10 Rui Alberto Faria Da Costa (Movistar)
11 Levi Leipheimer (Omega Pharma - QuickStep)
12 Bart De Clercq (Lotto Belisol)
13 Mikel Nieve Ituralde (Euskaltel-Euskadi)
14 Nicolas Roche (AG2R La Mondiale)
15 Wout Poels (Vacansoleil-DCM) @1:53
Final General Classification
1 Rui Alberto Faria Da Costa (Movistar) 35:54:49
2 Frank Schleck (RadioShack-Nissan) @14
3 Levi Leipheimer (Omega Pharma - QuickStep) @21
4 Robert Gesink (Rabobank) @25
5 Mikel Nieve Ituralde (Euskaltel-Euskadi) @40
6 Roman Kreuziger (Astana) @47
7 Thomas Danielson (Garmin-Barracuda) @48
8 Steven Kruijswijk (Rabobank) @59
9 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Movistar) @1:42
10 Nicolas Roche (AG2R La Mondiale) @1:52
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