Roche set for Le Tour after terrific national win

NICOLAS ROCHE (Ag2r) will wear the Irish road race champion’s jersey to the start of the Tour de France in Monaco next weekend although he was still awaiting confirmation from his team last night following his exciting victory in the Elite Road Race championship at Dunboyne yesterday.

Ag2r had left four places open going into road race championships in Ireland and France over the weekend and, after his team-mates failed to make the podium in France it was virtually certain he would follow his illustrious father, Stephen, into the world’s greatest race following yesterday achievement.

And the national championship was one achievement that eluded Stephen who won the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and world championships in one fell swoop in 1987.