Nicolas Roche hit the deck during yesterday’s Flèche Wallonne, crashing along with his first cousin Dan Martin (Garmin-Cervélo), but has confirmed to VeloNation that he is not too badly hurt and will be okay for Sunday’s Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
Roche suffered cuts and bruises but scans carried out yesterday showed that he had no fractures. That’s a major relief for the Ag2r La Mondiale rider, who has already suffered disruptions to his season. Fortunately he feels that his condition is growing, and he aims to be in very strong shape by the Tour of Romandie.
“The form is getting better every week,” he confirmed to VeloNation yesterday morning in a video interview (see below). “I had some good training sessions. Amstel was very particular, everything has to be done at a certain point [to determine if] you are there or not there. It didn’t work out in Amstel, but I think that the condition is there and I am improving every week.”
Roche had an excellent season last year, placing 15th in the Tour de France, seventh in the Vuelta a España and taking top ten results in many other events. His problems started in November when he picked up knee tendonitis through running. That meant he was off the bike until the start of December, and then midway through January, he tore his quadriceps during the team training camp.
“It has definitely been the worst winter I have had, so it has been hard enough to try to get back into condition,” he said, standing outside the Ag2r La Mondiale team bus 30 minutes before the start of Flèche Wallonne. “I’m definitely happy with the direction I am going in, but unfortunately I would have liked if my form was better. I would have thought I would have picked up condition quicker. I am in good condition, but not in top form.
“I will do Liège, that is the one what suits me most out of three races [the Ardennes Classics]. Then I will be going out to Romandie straight after Liège. I hope I do a good Liège, and be able to be flying in Romandie…I really hope to do well there.”
In the video interview, Roche also outlines his schedule towards the Tour de France, and speaks about his ambition to regain the Irish champion’s jersey he lost to Matt Brammeier last season.