Nicolas Roche (Team Sky) has confirmed that his forthcoming race programme is set to change meaning that he won’t be lining up in the forthcoming Ardennes classics.
Instead, Roche’s next race will be the Tour de Yorkshire (UCI 2.1) which takes place from April 29 to May 1.
Roche’s race programme over the past number of seasons has seen him contest the three Ardennes races – Amstel Gold, La Flèche Wallonne and Liège – Bastogne – Liège.
The Irish rider confirmed the news in a tweet: “Few changes in my race program. My next race will be @TourofYorkshire. Looking forward to racing in UK again and discovering a new race”
The British stage race consists of three road stages. The opening stage takes the riders over 184 kilometres from Beverley to Settle on a mainly slat route. Saturday’s second stage from Otley to Doncaster includes three categorised climbs, but it should be the final stage where the real battle for GC takes place.
The 198-kilometre stage from Middlesbrough to Scarborough includes six categorised climbs including the Cote de Oliver’s Mount not far from the finish.
Last year’s inaugural Tour de Yorkshire was won by Team Sky’s Lars Petter Nordhaug, ahead of Samuel Sanchez and Thomas Voeckler with Nordhaug’s team-mate Philip Deignan in fifth place.
Nordhaug has been listed on the provisional start list alongside Ben Swift and Peter Kennaugh in what looks like a very strong Team Sky line-up.
