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Last Updated: 2 Apr 2018 - 8:45:17 PM |
ROCHE AND DEIGNAN FIRST AND SECOND ON STAGE OF TOUR OF BEIJING
By Shane Stokes
7 Oct 2011,
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Irish cycling had a standout moment on today’s toughest stage of the Tour of Beijing, with Nicolas Roche (Ag2r La Mondiale) and Philip Deignan (RadioShack) taking first and second on day three.
The duo were part of a three man break which was clear on the final climb of the race, with the move being sparked off by Deignan. Roche and the British Vuelta a España runner-up Chris Froome (Sky Procycling) bridged across just before the top, and drove onwards towards the finish.
The bunch chased hard and almost caught then, but Roche and Deignan held off the pursuit to fight it for the stage win and place first and second. Froome just about held on for third, with the bunch – led by Francesco Gavazzi (Lampre-ISD), Nick Nuyens (Saxo Bank SunGard) and Paul Martens (Rabobank) finishing in the same time.
“I'm obviously happy, it's a victory that feels really good,” said a relieved and fulfilled Roche afterwards. “This is my second win since I joined AG2R La Mondiale [the other being the 2009 Irish championships] but it is the most important. It is timely for me and the team. I had a difficult season from a personal point of view for various reasons, and the team also has experienced a complicated end of season.”
Aside from being Roche’s first ever WorldTour victory, it is also his first international win since taking a stage in the 2008 Tour du Limousin. Breaking that duck is a huge eight off his mind, and should make it easier for him to succeed in the future due to the confidence boost it gives him and the pressure it takes off.
Reaching the line first is also a huge plus for Roche’s Ag2r La Mondiale team, because a lack of points means that it is fighting to keep its top-level ProTeam licence.
He said that the riders set out this morning aiming to boost his chances. “A tactic was put in place at the pre-stage briefing and the team played the game one hundred percent. I said at the start that I wanted this stage and that Jean-Christophe [Peraud] could move up the general classification,” he said. “Everyone put themselves into place and the result is there. There are not many days like this where you announce that you want to win and that it works out!”
Overnight race leader Tony Martin (HTC Highroad) finished safely in the main bunch, crossing the line 21st and retaining his red leader’s jersey. David Millar (Garmin-Cervélo) remains second overall, 17 seconds back, while Froome remains 26 seconds off Martin’s time but moves up a place to third.
Roche moves up two places to eleventh, and is just two seconds off the tenth-placed rider, Niki Terpstra (Quick Step Cycling Team). Deignan also moves up the GC, advancing strongly from 64th to 31st, one minute eight seconds back. He can be very pleased about today’s ride, given that he created the break and was also less than a bike length away from a big win.
The performance shows that he is back at the top level after a tough year in 2010. He will race for the UnitedHealthcare next season, a US Pro Continental team, and should have greater personal opportunities there than with RadioShack this year.
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Tour of Beijing (WorldTour)
Stage 3 results, Men Tou Gou - Yong Ning Town:
1, Nicolas Roche (AG2R La Mondiale) 162 kilometres in 3 hours 53 mins 15 secs
2, Philip Deignan (Team RadioShack) same time
3, Christopher Froome (Sky Procycling) at 1 secs
4, Francesco Gavazzi (Lampre - ISD)
5, Nick Nuyens (Saxo Bank SunGard)
6, Paul Martens (Rabobank Cycling Team)
7, Angel Madrazo Ruiz (Movistar Team)
8, Simon Clarke (Pro Team Astana)
9, Michael Barry (Sky Procycling)
10, Luke Roberts (Saxo Bank SunGard) all same time
Sprint 1: 1, Lieuwe Westra (Vacansoleil - DCM Procycling Team) 5 pts
Sprint 2: 1, Martijn Keizer (Vacansoleil - DCM Procycling Team) 5 pts
Sprint 3:1, Martijn Keizer (Vacansoleil - DCM Procycling Team) 5 pts
KoM 1: 1, Adriano Malori (Lampre - ISD) 8 pts
KoM 2: 1, Lloyd Mondory (AG2R La mondiale) 12 pts
KoM 3: 1, Igor Anton Hernandez (Euskaltel - Euskadi) 12 pts
Irish: 4, Nicolas Roche (AG2R La mondiale) 4
KoM 4:
1, Nicolas Roche (AG2R La mondiale) 12 pts
2, Christopher Froome (Sky Procycling) 8
3, Philip Deignan (Team RadioShack) 6
Young riders:
1, Angel Madrazo Ruiz (Movistar Team) at 3 hours 53 mins 16 secs
2, Simon Clarke (Pro Team Astana)
3, Daniel Oss (Liquigas-Cannondale)
Teams:
1, Team RadioShack, 11 hours 39 mins 47 secs
2, Saxo Bank SunGard, at 1 secs
3, Rabobank Cycling Team, same time
Other:
13, AG2R La Mondiale, at 3 mins 9 secs
General classification after stage 3:
1, Tony Martin (HTC - Highroad) 7 hours 10 mins 19 secs
2, David Millar (Team Garmin - Cervelo) at 17 secs
3, Christopher Froome (Sky Procycling) at 26 secs
4, Stephen Cummings (Sky Procycling) at 35 secs
5, Olivier Kaisen (Omega Pharma - Lotto) at 39 secs
6, Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Rabobank Cycling Team) at 41 secs
7, Jean Christophe Peraud (AG2R La mondiale) at 43 secs
8, Andriy Grivko (Pro Team Astana)
9, Dario Cataldo (Quick Step Cycling Team)
10, Niki Terpstra (Quick Step Cycling Team) at 46 secs
Irish:
11, Nicolas Roche (AG2R La mondiale) at 48 secs
31, Philip Deignan (Team RadioShack) at 1 min 8 secs
Points:
1, Christopher Froome (Sky Procycling) 25 pts
2, Nicolas Roche (AG2R La mondiale) 17
3, Tony Martin (HTC - Highroad) 15
Other:
8, Philip Deignan (Team RadioShack) 14
Mountains classification:
1, Igor Anton Hernandez (Euskaltel - Euskadi) 22 pts
2, Lloyd Mondory (AG2R La mondiale) 18
3, Thomas De Gendt (Vacansoleil - DCM Procycling Team) 17
Irish:
4, Nicolas Roche (AG2R La mondiale) 16
11, Philip Deignan (Team RadioShack) 6
Young riders classification:
1, Benjamin King (Team RadioShack) 7 hours 11 mins 9 secs
2, Bart De Clercq (Omega Pharma - Lotto) at 2 secs
3, Dennis Van Winden (Rabobank Cycling Team) at 6 secs
Teams classification:
1, Sky Procycling, 21 hours 32 mins 22 secs
2, Omega Pharma – Lotto, at 59 secs
3, Rabobank Cycling Team, at 1 min 8 secs
Other:
5, Team RadioShack, at 1 min 11 secs
14, AG2R La mondiale, at 4 mins 12 secs
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