Roche’s brave challenge ends in a massive crash

IRELAND’S Nicolas Roche was taken to hospital after being involved in a huge crash on stage six of the Vuelta a Espana.

Roche ( below), who held the race leader’s jersey until Wednesday, attempted to carry on after the collision in the 105th kilometre of the stage from Mora de Rubielos to Ares del Maestrat but abandoned soon after.

The incident also ended the races of Rigoberto Uran and Hugh Carthy, who were both confirmed by their team EF Education First to have been sent to hospital for further evaluation, while CCC Team’s Victor De La Parte was also forced to pull out.

“It was quite a high speed all day today and unfortunately, on one of the downhills, there was quite a big crash involving almost all our riders,” said Team Sunweb coach Luke Roberts.

“Unfortunately Nico (Roche) had to abandon at that point and he was taken to hospital.”

Dylan Teuns claimed the red jersey after finishing second behind Jesus Herrada, who crossed the finish line seven seconds clear of the Belgian.

Teuns’ performance was enough to see the Bahrain-Merida rider unseat Miguel Angel Lopez at the summit of the general classification after the Colombian finished in the bunch, almost six minutes behind the stage winner.

Teuns now holds a 39-second lead over Team Ineos’ David De La Cruz in the GC standings, with Astana’s Lopez having dropped to third.

Meanwhile, Lizzie Deignan is allowing herself to dream of glory on home roads in Yorkshire next month after a stellar return to racing following the birth of baby Orla last year.

Deignan always had the UCI Road World Championships in Yorkshire as her target when she began her comeback but securing a second world title looks like a more realistic goal after victory in the Women’s Tour in June.

“It’s been beyond my expectations,” Deignan said of her season so far.