Nicolas Roche anxious for a top ten finish at the Vuelta a Espana 2012
Nicolas Roche of Team Ag2r La Mondiale is not ready to give up at the ongoing Vuelta a Espana final general classifications battle.
The cyclist finished 7th during the 2010 edition of the race and is determined to improve his results in the current version of the race.
He currently holds the 12th overall spot after the stage 17 classifications, with a total deficit 16 minutes and 22 seconds on the new leader Alberto Contador.
Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver was leading the race but he had no answer to Contador’s attack during the 17 stage of the race and is now 2 minutes and 28 seconds behind at the third spot.
Alejandro Valverde Belmonte is 1 minute and 52 seconds behind at the second position, with Christopher Froome and Daniel Moreno holding the fourth and the fifth positions respectively.
Roche was looking good to improve his former best Vuelta performance but the two tough climbing days during the 15th and the 16th stage of the race made things a little difficult for him.
“I had a strong first fortnight; the shorter, steeper climbs were more to my advantage than the really long mountains of this final week”.
He further added, “and today [stage 16] was all about trying not to undo all the good work I had done to get into the top 10 overall."
Roche also said to the Irish Independent, "I'm really hoping I can recover a bit on tomorrow's rest day and will feel a bit better on Wednesday”.
“I want a top 10 and will be really p***ed off if I have to settle for 11th at the Vuelta and 12th at the Tour," said Roche.
The 28-year-old occupied the 12th overall position after the Tour de France overall classifications and tenth overall at the Tour de Suisse 2012.
He occupied the 16th overall spot during the 2011 version of the race and is on track to finish within that slot.
The chances to best his 2010 performance might be a little difficult considering it his second Grand Tour appearance of the season. However, the Irishman can certainly improve his most recent overall position at the Vuelta a Espana 2012.
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