Ag2r La Mondiale rider Nicolas Roche may not have quite the form to contend for victory in Liège-Bastogne-Liège, but he is clear on what the contenders need to do to try to beat Philippe Gilbert.
“I think if riders don’t attack earlier, they don’t have a chance of winning,” he warned, speaking to VeloNation at this morning’s start in Liege’s historical Place Saint Lambert. “I know a lot of riders have said in the press that they would be happy to be second. If the top riders are here to be second, or if they wait until Ans for Gilbert to attack, I think they have [already] lost.
“For sure, the only way they can try and win is by attacking and isolating Gilbert in the final.”
Roche’s father Stephen often spoke about the lack of fighting spirit shown by some riders in the past, most notably by those who competed with Miguel Indurain and ended up practically conceding defeat before the Tour started.
Two decades on, his son is saying the same; it’s crucial to be both hungry and ambitious, and to believe that everyone can be beaten.
As regards Roche himself, he once again reiterated that early-season injury means that he is some way off his best condition. However he has recovered well after a crash in Flèche Wallonne landed him in hospital, and he was looking forward to La Doyenne.
“I am feeling much better. It has been improving day after day,” he said. “A couple of days ago I thought it was going to take me a good ten days [to recover], and I wasn’t sure if I was going to ride here or not. Every day it has been improving, so today I am in okay condition.
“I am still a bit rusty, but I am happy enough to start and good enough to race.”