Nicolas Roche and Philip Deignan were part of the day's main break on yesterday's 11th stage of the Giro d'Italia, going clear as part of a dangerous 14-man move which at one point looked destined to go all the way to the finish.
The break's advantage was, however, eroded by the Androni Giocattoli team, under pressure after what has been a lacklustre Giro thus far. Splinter group It chased hard and effectively damned the break's chance of staying clear. Roche then surged on with Francesco Bongiorno (Bardiani) and Dani Moreno (Katusaha) inside the final 34 kilometres, with this splinter group being reinforced by the Colombian Julien Arredondo (Trek).
However the day’s efforts took their toll on Roche and he faded on the climb of Naso di Gatto. The others were caught soon afterwards, then Roche’s team-mate Michael Rogers attacked inside the final 20 kilometres and opened up a gap.
Riding flat out all the way to the line, the triple world time-trial champion managed to hold off the chasing bunch behind, reaching the finish 10 seconds clear of Simon Geschke (Team Giant-Shimano), Enrico Battaglin (Bardiani-CSF), Wilco Kelderman (Belkin Pro Cycling Team) and the rest of the 39-man chase group.
The victory was his first Grand Tour stage win of his career and came a month after he was cleared to return to competition after a suspension for clenbuterol. The UCI accepted that the substance had entered his system as a result of food contamination at its event in Beijing, China.
Roche and Deignan paid the price for their efforts, finishing 55th and 105th respectively. They are now 44th and 83rd overall, and will continue trying to chase stage wins in the remaining stages.
The race continues today with a 41.9 kilometre time trial.
