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Last Updated: Aug 31st, 2008 - 22:05:19 |
Nicolas Roche has got off to a strong start in the Tour of Spain, placing eleventh in today’s bunch finish despite using vital energy in a breakaway move during the closing stages.
The 24 year old Irish rider attacked 20 kilometres from the finish in Jaén, getting away in a small group and staying clear until approximately five kilometres to go. They were caught by the peloton but Roche had enough left in the tank to gallop home eleventh, crossing the line in the same time as the main bunch, and two seconds behind the stage winner Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d’Epargne).
Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) was second with Alessandro Ballan (Lampre) third. Valverde took over the race lead from fifth-placed Filippo Pozatto (Liquigas).
“I attacked but we were caught with five kilometres to go,” said Roche. “I was eleventh in the uphill sprint. I am feeling good!”
Roche’s Crédit Agriole team were previously sixteenth in the Saturday’s team time trial, completing the 7.7 kilometre distance in a time 23 seconds slower than Liquigas.
He is 75th overall, 36 seconds behind Valverde and 23 adrift of second-placed Pozzato. Today’s showing has boosted his confidence and he is likely to continue chasing for a stage win as the three week race progresses.
Roche’s Crédit Agricole team is stopping at the end of the year but he recently secured a new two year deal with Ag2r La Mondiale.
The Vuelta a España continues tomorrow with a 168.6 kilometre race from Jaén to Córdoba.
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Vuelta a España (Grand Tour), Spain, August 30 - September 21, 2008:
Stage 1 - August 30: Granada – Granada:
Team time trial:
1, Liquigas , 7.7 kilometres in 8 mins 21 secs (55.33 km/h)
2, Euskaltel – Euskadi, at 8 secs
3, Caisse d'Epargne, at 9 secs
4, Quick Step, at 10 secs
5, Team CSC - Saxo Bank, at 11 secs
6, Lampre , same time
Other:
16, Credit Agricole, at 23 secs
Stage 2 - August 31: Granada – Jaén:
1, Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Caisse d'Epargne) 176.3 kilometres in 4 hours 23 mins (40.221 km/h)
2, Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) at 2 secs
3, Alessandro Ballan (Lampre)
4, Greg Van Avermaet (Silence – Lotto)
5, Filippo Pozzato (Liquigas)
6, Rinaldo Nocentini (AG2R La Mondiale) all same time
Irish:
11, Nicolas Roche (Crédit Agricole) same time
Points
S.I. Jaén - km 132:
1, Egoi Martinez De Esteban (Euskaltel - Euskadi) 4 pts
2, Jesus Rosendo Prado (Andalucía - Cajasur) 2
3, Mikhail Ignatiev (Tinkoff Credit Systems) 1
S.I. La Guardia de Jaén - km 157.7:
1, Mauricio Alberto Ardila Cano (Rabobank) 4 pts
2, Xabier Zandio Echaide (Caisse d'Epargne) 2
3, Iñigo Landaluze Intxaurraga (Euskaltel - Euskadi) 1
Jaén - km 167.3:
1, Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Caisse d'Epargne) 25 pts
2, Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) 20
3, Alessandro Ballan (Lampre) 16
4, Greg Van Avermaet (Silence – Lotto) 14
5, Filippo Pozzato (Liquigas) 12
6, Rinaldo Nocentini (AG2R La Mondiale) 10
Irish:
11, Nicolas Roche (Crédit Agricole) 5
Mountains:
Puerto de Huelma, cat 3 - km 84:
1, Jesus Rosendo Prado (Andalucía – Cajasur) 6 pts
2, Cycril Lemoine (Crédit Agricole) 4
3, Mikhail Ignatiev (Tinkoff Credit Systems) 2
4, Egoi Martinez De Esteban (Euskaltel – Euskadi) 1
Teams:
1, Caisse d'Epargne , 13 hours 9 mins 4 secs
2, Gerolsteiner , at 2 secs
3, Rabobank
4, Quick Step
5, Silence-Lotto
6, AG2R La Mondiale, all same time
Other:
15, Credit Agricole, same time
General classification after stage 2:
1, Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Caisse d'Epargne 4 hours 31 mins 10
2, Filippo Pozzato (Liquigas) at 13 secs
3, Daniele Bennati (Liquigas)
4, Egoi Martinez De Esteban (Euskaltel - Euskadi) at 15 secs
5, Iñigo Landaluze Intxaurraga (Euskaltel - Euskadi) at 19 secs
6, Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) same time
Irish:
75, Nicolas Roche (Crédit Agricole) at 36 secs
Points classification:
1, Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Caisse d'Epargne) 25 pts
2, Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) 20
3, Alessandro Ballan (Lampre) 16
4, Greg Van Avermaet (Silence - Lotto) 14
5, Filippo Pozzato (Liquigas) 12
6, Rinaldo Nocentini (AG2R La Mondiale) 10
Irish:
11, Nicolas Roche (Crédit Agricole) 5
Mountains classification:
1, Jesus Rosendo Prado (Andalucía - Cajasur) 6 pts
2, Cycril Lemoine (Crédit Agricole) 4
3, Mikhail Ignatiev (Tinkoff Credit Systems) 2
4, Egoi Martinez De Esteban (Euskaltel - Euskadi) 1
Teams classification:
1, Caisse d'Epargne , 13 hours 17 mins 34 secs
2, Euskaltel - Euskadi , at 1 sec
3, Quick Step , at 3 secs
4, CSC-Saxo Bank , at 4 secs
5, Tinkoff Credit Systems , at 5 secs
6, Rabobank , at 6 secs
Irish:
14, Credit Agricole , at 16 secs
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