Nicholas Roche 51st after 258-kilometre World Championship Road Race
Nicholas Roche was riding his eight World Championship Road Race and kept Irish hopes alive until the closing stages.
Julian Alaphilippe claimed the Men’s Elite Road Race rainbow jersey at the 2020 UCI Road World Championships in Imola - Emilia Romagna. Alaphilippe ending a 23-year wait for France cycling.
The Irish cycling team was led by Nicholas Roche with support from Time Trial specialist, Ryan Mullen and 20-year old, Ben Healy. An arduous 258.2 km route featuring over 5,000 meters of climbing, the peloton of 177 men was reduced considerably as the day wore on.
Roche remined in contention until the final 45 kilometres where he was dropped from the leading group on one of many climbs which ramped up to a 15% gradient. The sole Irish finisher, Roche would battle on to 51th from 177 starters.
Speaking after the race, Roche commented:
“I think I rode a pretty decent race, just the legs let me go in the finish. I was always up the front, Ben (Healy) was around me for quite a long time and I just faded near the finish when the race really really started. I was just a little bit short.”
Healy and Mullen provided support in the early hours of the race, retiring before the finish. Just 88 riders could complete one of the toughest routes in memory.
Wout van Aert (Belgium) finished second and Marc Hirschi (Switzerland) took third.