Irish climber predicts exciting 102nd edition
Monday 29 June 2015 16:43, UK
Nicolas Roche believes this summer’s Tour de France could be one of the most open editions of the race in recent years and says Team Sky’s squad is ideally balanced for the varied route.
The 102nd Tour starts in the Dutch city of Utrecht on Saturday and will take in six mountain-top finishes, two time trials and a cobbled stage before ending with the traditional sprint stage into Paris on July 26.
The last three Tours have all been dominated by their eventual winner, but with Chris Froome, Alberto Contador, Vincenzo Nibali and Nairo Quintana all vying for victory this time around, Team Sky rider Roche expects a closer battle.
He told Sky Sports News HQ: “Last year was bound to be the most exciting Tour and, unfortunately, two of the main contenders [Froome and Contador] crashed out after the first week and Nibali just dominated the last 10 days.
“I certainly hope that this year is going to be exciting. The public needs an exciting race. The Tour de France has been quite monotonous for some years and quite exciting for other years, which is why people look more at the Giro [d'Italia] because there are more things happening.
“The course this year is made to be a more exciting race: much more open, fewer flat stages and fewer pure mountain stages, but a lot of intermediate stages, so you can create a bit of a surprise. Those medium stages are going to be very exciting and open to a lot more battles between the main GC [general classification] guys.”
Roche has been named as one Froome’s support riders in a nine-man Team Sky squad containing climbers such as Richie Porte, Wout Poels and Leopold Konig, and cobbled specialists such as Geraint Thomas, Ian Stannard and Luke Rowe.
He added: “You have some experienced riders, some young riders, some cobbled classics riders, then some pure climbers and then quite a decent field of riders who can ride on medium mountains as well.
“The team was well thought-out, with different roles for what to do when, and I think that will be the main strength. And when you are behind one of the strongest athletes in the world, that makes things even easier.”
Team Sky’s squad includes five Britons – Froome, Thomas, Stannard, Rowe and Peter Kennaugh – which is the highest fielded by the team in its six entries to the Tour.
Rowe, who will make his debut at the race at the age of 25, told Sky Sports News HQ: “It’s a massive honour. Team Sky is one of the strongest Pro Tour teams there is – they have so much strength in depth – so to make the final nine is no mean feat. To go there alongside such a great bunch of guys – not only team-mates but good mates as well – is a pretty special opportunity.
“It’s nice for the British public to have some British riders to support. There are five in Team Sky and five others competing for other teams, so 10 in total.
“Having a British core to a British team, where you all speak perfect English, and also the other four riders in the team, that is also important for communication throughout the race. We are all on the same wavelength, which is crucial to get the best out of the team.”
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