Sixteenth overall in the Tour de France heading into the second part of the race, Nicolas Roche is hoping that today’s Alpine stage goes to plan. The 26 year old Ag2r La Mondiale rider lost time on the stage to Morzine-Avoriaz, slipping back on the final climb and losing two minutes 18 seconds to the day’s winner Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank).
Reflecting on the time loss during yesterday rest day, Roche said that he felt that he had a slight case of hunger knock and that’s why he lost the time he did. He pushed so hard through the energy slump that he actually collapsed after the finish, getting attention from the race doctors.
“It was scary, but that is what happens when you give 200 percent,” he said. “I normally give 100 percent but went even deeper. I just pushed it, pushed it, pushed it. I had a hunger flat with about two kilometres to go, and then I just continued as best as I could.”
Roche has focussed a lot this year on losing weight and has actually been watching his diet during the Tour, passing over pasta sauces in order not to eat too much. However he’s realised that regime is more crucial before the race start, and that the riders in the Tour need to ensure that they replace the vast amount of calories burned each day.
As a result, he’ll be more relaxed with things from this point on. That will hopefully avoid any reoccurrence of his sudden energy loss on Sunday.
The Irishman had started Sunday’s stage eighth overall but dropped to sixteenth. He’s now three minutes 11 seconds behind yellow jersey Cadel Evans (BMC Racing Team).
“I lost two minutes, I was disappointed with that, but it is not the end of the world yet,” he said. “I am still in the game.
“Stage nine could be very decisive. It is going to be a really, really tough start, and a tough day,” he continued, thinking about today’s 204.5 kilometre stage from Morzine Avoriaz to Saint Jean de Maurienne.
“I expect it is going to be one of the hardest ones of the Tour, going up the Col de la Madeleine. I rode the stage already when I was at the training camp in June, so I know what to expect and how hard it is. The climb is 27 kilometres long, so it will be very tough.”
Roche said before the start of the Tour that he was aiming to finish inside the top 15 overall. Providing he rides to his ability from this point on, the goal is an achievable one. He also has the potential to take a stage victory, although that would of course depend on luck and tactics playing out in the right way.