All of Team Sky’s drivers will take safety refresher courses this winter as part of their response to an embarrassing incident that saw the team bus almost run a cyclist off the road in Wales.

Nicolas Roche is the new national time-trial champion after storming to a fantastic win in Kilcullen, Co Kildare last night.

Nicolas Roche is bracing himself for one of the hardest stages of a Grand Tour in his professional career today when the 11th stage of the Vuelta A Espana sees the riders tackle over 5,000 metres of climbing en route to a summit finish in Andorra.

Orica GreenEDGE’s Esteban Chaves is the new race leader after winning stage two.

Nicolas Roche starts the 15th Grand Tour of his career today when he lines up as part of a formidable-looking Team Sky squad for the opening stage of the Vuelta a Espana in the southern port town of Puerto Banus.

Team Sky’s Chris Froome and team-mate Nicholas Roche are among those to question the route of the opening team time-trial of the Vuelta a Espana.

Nicolas Roche has been named in Team Sky’s nine-man roster for the Vuelta a Espana, which starts on Saturday in the Andalucian town of Puerto Banus on the Costa del Sol.

Nicolas Roche became just the third Irishman in history to be part of a win at the Tour de France when he helped ensure teammate Chris Froome’s overall victory on yesterday’s final stage of the race into Paris.

To gauge where cycling is at now, to establish how deep it is in the mire, it may be necessary to hold a stage of the Tour de France in front of a Late Late Show studio audience.

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Chris Froome was seething with defending champion Vincenzo Nibali after Stage 19.

Nicolas Roche put up a brave fight in a bid to claim stage glory on yesterday’s 17th stage of the Tour de France but it was German Simon Geschke (Giant Alpecin) who emerged victorious with a brilliant solo victory.

Nicolas Roche has described the ‘disrespect’ his Team Sky squad endured from spectators over the weekend.

Froome asked what more he can do to prove he is riding clean.

Team Sky’s riders and management have staunchly defended the performance of Nicolas Roche following Sunday’s near miss at a stage win on the ninth day of the Tour de France.

Chris Froome challenged his rivals for the Tour de France yellow jersey to put him under pressure in the Pyrenees.

Nicolas Roche has been named in Team Sky’s nine-man squad for the Tour de France, which starts in Utrecht in the Netherlands on Saturday.

Fears that the Irish rider’s position in the team was in doubt proved wide of the mark this afternoon when the son of ‘Tour’ winner Stephan was named in the squad.

Ireland’s Nicolas Roche admits he is “worried” he may miss out on this year’s Tour de France amid fears Team Sky will omit him from their line-up for the race.