Ireland’s Nicolas Roche got right in the mix on the fourth day of the Giro d’Italia yesterday, challenging for stage glory on the 200-kilometre stage from Catanzaro to Praia a Mare.

Portuguese rider Nelson Oliveira took the biggest win of his career on stage 13 of the Vuelta A Espana yesterday as he outsmarted a 24-man breakaway to win alone in Tarazona.