CYCLING NEWS:WITH THE season-ending Tour of Lombardy Classic taking place tomorrow, Nicolas Roche showed he is in fine shape by placing fifth in yesterday's Gran Piemonte in Italy yesterday.
Roche was part of a 14-man move which fought it out at the end of the 199 kilometre race, with the Irish Ag2r La Mondiale rider finishing towards the front of that group and in the same time as the Spanish winner Dani Moreno (Katusha).
Paris-Tours winner Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) was second.
Roche won the toughest stage of the Tour of Beijing one week ago, outsprinting compatriot Philip Deignan (RadioShack) then. His result yesterday was notable because he was the only rider in the top placings who competed in China, and therefore at a disadvantage due to the effects of jetlag.
Providing he recovers in time for tomorrow’s race, he should be in the hunt for a strong result. Ditto for Deignan and Roche’s first cousin Dan Martin (Garmin-Cervélo), who are both going well of late and could be big factors.
In other news, Irish rider Mark Rohan was this week named as the International Paralympic Committee’s (IPC) Athlete of the Month for September. He won 74 per cent of the IPC Facebook poll, thanks to his feat of taking gold in both the H1 handcycling Road Race and Time Trial at the UCI Para-Cycling Road World Championships in Roskilde, Denmark.
“I was absolutely delighted to retain the road world title and to win the time trial,” he said. “But it also meant that I had gained qualification for the London 2012 Paralympics, so it was a bonus. It was amazing.” Colin Lynch also took gold at the championships, winning the C3 time trial.
Irish riders have posted podium rides in the World Masters Championships in Manchester this week. Stephen McNally (Orwell Wheelers) finished second in the 45-49 3km pursuit, Orla Hendron (Orwell Wheelers) picked up silver in the 45-49 points race and Terry Mackin (Banbridge CC) was third in the 35-39 kilometre time trial.
RESULTS: Gran Piemonte, Italy (1.HC): Piasco to Novi Ligure: 1, Dani Moreno (Katusha) 199 kilometres in 4 hours 45 mins 16 secs; 2, G Van Avermaet (BMC); 3, L. Paolini (Katusha); 4, T Voeckler (Europcar); 5, N Roche (AG2R La Mondiale); 6, P Niemiec (Lampre-ISD); 7, D Bennati (Leoapard-Trek); 8, A Steensen (Saxo Bank-Sungard) all same time. FIXTURES: Sunday:Ulster cyclo-cross league round 2, Lady Dixon Park, Belfast. First races at 10.30, main event at 13.00
