When Ireland’s Nicolas Roche powered out of the splintering pack on the final ascent of stage 2 of the Vuelta, the Sky rider’s thoughts inevitably turned back to a very similar scenario in 2013.
Two years ago on the second category ascent of Monte da Groba on the Vuelta’s stage 2, Roche had gone clear of a group of 25 riders in the final kilometre for a solo win, in the process becoming just the fifth Irishman ever to capture a Vuelta stage.
This time round, Roche followed a key move by Nairo Quintana (Movistar) halfway up the Caminito del Rey, and then pressed on with Esteban Chaves (Orica-GreenEdge) and Tom Dumoulin (Giant Shimano) as the Colombian contender faded fast on the higher slopes of the climb.
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The Irishman launched a full-on attack with around 1,500 metres to go but finally had to settle for third as Dumoulin and Chaves then made a counter-surge that left him out for the count.
That said, Roche is now third overall and simultaneously confirmed that he has come through the Tour de France and gone onto the Vuelta in excellent shape.
“It was a bit of a cat-and-mouse situation, and that’s not my favourite game. I’d have preferred a steadier tempo on the climb,” Roche told a small group of reporters after warming down on the rollers outside the Team Sky bus.
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