Roche and McCann to lead Ireland to Worlds
Nicolas Roche has been confirmed to lead a three-man Irish team at the World Road Race Championships in Geelong, Australia. The Irish rider has proven that he hasn’t lost his form since his 15th overall finish at the Tour de France, with three top-ten finishes already in the first six stages of the Vuelta a Espana, for an 11th place overall.
“The Worlds can sometimes be a lottery and not always the strongest rider wins,” said Irish cycling director Phil Leigh. “Nicholas is riding better this year than in any of his previous seasons as a pro and if he can get his preparation right, he can be right there in the final mix.”
Roche finished 11th in the Paris-Nice and took three top-five finishes in classics races this season. Filippo Pozzato, the outspoken director for the Italian team, named the Irishman as a favourite for the event. Joining Roche at the Worlds will be David McCann, who will support him in the Elite Men’s Road Race. McCann will also represent Ireland in the Elite Men’s Time-Trial, alongside Irish champion, Matt Brammeier.
“McCann, who finished an excellent 10th in the World Time Trial Championship last year, is aiming to finish higher this year and is preparing by riding the 10-day Tour of China,” said Leigh. “National track champion Brammeier is fine-tuning his preparation via a series of UCI 1.1 races in Belgium, a track camp and the eight-day Tour of Britain.”
While Roche rides the Vuelta, McCann is riding in China for the Giant Asia team, giving them ten victories so far this season, while British-born Irishman Brammeier sticks to the UK. Tour of Poland winner Daniel Martin, Roche’s first cousin, was expected to ride for the Irish national team but has opted to compete in the coinciding Tour of Lombardy instead, in which he finished eighth last year.
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