Roche's plans taking shape

CYCLING NEWS:DETERMINED TO build on an excellent season that saw him take second and fourth on stages of the Tour de France as well as 23rd overall, Nicolas Roche has been working hard this winter to ensure he is in strong form in 2010.

The 25-year-old Ag2r La Mondiale rider wants to improve on his climbing and so he has made efforts to become more lean.

“Things have been going well,” he said yesterday. “I am happy enough with the way I did my winter. I worked well. I did less kilometres than the other years but I am also a good four kilos lighter than I was at this time last season. That compensates for the training miles – I am happy enough with my condition.”

In August Sean Kelly applauded Roche’s excellent debut Tour, and said that he thought he could contend for stage wins and a top ten place if he kept improving. He felt his climbing would improve considerably if he started the season lighter than usual and was able to go to the Tour carrying less kilos.

Roche is well on track to do that. “This year I really, really worked hard on my weight, not going crazy at the end of the season with food and drink.

“I am now almost at my pre-Tour weight . . . I am more or less what I was when I came to the nationals this year, so I am pretty impressed with myself.”

Roche will today complete a team training camp in Tarragona and has already finalised his provisional race programme up to the Dauphiné Libéré. He will start his season in the Etoile de Bessèges on February 3rd, then continue to build toward his first big goal of Paris-Nice.

FIXTURES:Sunday: Emyvale Hill Climb, Golden Heights, Toneyclea. Starts 10 am. Christmas XC and CX fun race, Park Hotel, Virginia. First races start at 12.15pm.