Climbs will tell Roche where he stands

CYCLING:RETAINING 16TH place overall on yesterday's flat fourth stage, Nicolas Roche has outlined his goals for the remainder of the Critérium du Dauphiné in France. The Ag2r La Mondiale competitor will today begin the first of three days in the mountains, and is aiming to ride strongly in each.

“I was a bit disappointed with how the time trial went yesterday,” he said, “but hope that things go well on the three mountain stages ahead.

“The earlier mountain stage this week (Monday) was good, I was fifth there, but it was a climb that suited me really well. It was a long drag with a steep final kilometre.

“Tomorrow’s stage is a bit like that, then I have a better to chance to find out how I am going on the final two days, which are really mountain stages.

“I’d like to take a top-five finish on one of those stages, and move up into the top-10 overall. If I look at all the times, I think that maybe eighth is possible if I ride well. I’d be satisfied with that.”

Yesterday’s stage to Mâcon was won by the German rider John Degenkolb (HTC Highroad), who triumphed after breakaway riders Adriano Malori (Lampre-ISD) and Jeremy Roy (FDJ) were caught inside the final five kilometres.

Degenkolb beat Edvald Boasson Hagen (Sky Procycling) and Juan José Haedo (Saxo Bank Sungard) to the line, netting his second stage win of the event.

Neither Roche nor Dan Martin (Garmin-Cervélo) sprinted, saving their energy for the mountains. They were 28th and 148th respectively.

Bradley Wiggins (Sky) retains the yellow jersey he took in Wednesday’s time trial, after maintaining his one minute 11-second lead over Cadel Evans (BMC Racing Team), with defending champion Janez Brajkovic (Team RadioShack) a further 10 seconds back in third overall.

Roche is 3.26 down, with Martin 116th.

The race continues today with a 210km stage to Villars-les-Dombes/Les Gets.

Meanwhile, nine female riders competed in last weekend’s Rás Dhun na nGall. Heather Wilson, Tonya Moran, Melanie Spath, Cait Elliott, Therese O’Neill, Amy Brice, Val O’Neill, Sandra Devine and Mandy Collie all lined out alongside the male competitors, with eight of the nine completing the difficult event.

Damien Shaw (Lakeside Wheelers) was the overall winner, with Wilson first woman in a very solid 18th.

FIXTURES: Today: John Holion Memorial, Cross, Co Mayo; 7.30. Tomorrow: Christy McManus Memorial, Roundwood. 10am; Sliabh Luachra 15km TT, Currow, 7.45; Emma McMullan Trophy, noon from Hillsborough Village Centre. Sunday: John Drumm Memorial, Currow; Seán Nolan Meath GP, Navan Rugby Club. Sign on from 9.30am; Women's national league race, starts same location 1pm; Noel Teggart Memorial, Banbridge, noon. Monday: Leinster Three-Day, stage one, Mondello, 7.30.