Nicolas Roche describes finding himself in a flowerbed at the Tour de France
Nicolas Roche ended up in a flowerbed after catapulting from his bike on stage five of the Tour de France
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter

Crashes have been an unfortunately large part of the Tour de France through its first five stages, but at least when Nicolas Roche went down on stage five he had a soft landing.
The Team Sky rider is keeping a stage-by-stage diary in the Irish Independent, where he lets the readers in on what it's like on the road, and sometimes off the road, like he experienced on Wednesday.
Roche describes how he flew over the handlebars into a group of spectators before finding himself in a flowerbed. At which point, Team Sky mechanic Gary Blem turned his hand to horticulture in order to get the Irishman's bike back on the road.
Roche wrote: "I tried to control my skid but couldn't stop my wheel hitting the kerb, where I was catapulted over the handlebars and onto the stunned spectators, who broke my fall a little bit before we all landed in a heap in the flowers. I uprooted myself from the flowerbed just as our mechanic Gary arrived alongside me.
"Gary pulled a few flowers out of my brake levers and cleaned my handlebars while I wiped the peat moss off my team kit and gave myself a quick once-over.
"Apart from my pride though, I wasn't hurt and I hope none of the spectators were either."
Roche is a key part of Chris Froome's entourage at the Tour de France and the Irishman's job will to guide the 2013 winner up the high mountains alongside the likes of Leopold Konig and Richie Porte.
Roche joined Sky from Tinkoff-Saxo at the start of the season, having helped guide Alberto Contador to fourth overall in the 2013 Tour.
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Stuart Clarke is a News Associates trained journalist who has worked for the likes of the British Olympic Associate, British Rowing and the England and Wales Cricket Board, and of course Cycling Weekly. His work at Cycling Weekly has focused upon professional racing, following the World Tour races and its characters.
-
-
'I sweated and tried not to barf up my sandwich': a first look at Wahoo's new Sports Science Center
We spent a day at Wahoo's recently opened drool-worthy sports science haven getting to know our bodies better
By Kristin Jenny • Published
-
'A big weight off my shoulders' — Jake Stewart takes 'emotional' first win
British rider breaks through with stage one victory at the Tour de l'Ain
By Adam Becket • Published
-
'He's going to win some big bike races' - Tom Pidcock hails Sam Watson as he turns pro with Groupama-FDJ
U23 British National champion has impressed his French team and more besides
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Adam Yates and Ineos Grenadiers discuss contract extension with Briton not assured of same Grand Tour opportunities
The Briton joined Ineos Grenadiers two years ago and is thought to be attracting interest from elsewhere
By Chris Marshall-Bell • Published
-
Leo Hayter joins Ineos Grenadiers as stagiaire before turning pro with team in 2023
Baby Giro winner will move to highest level next season alongside his brother with British team
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Dave Brailsford admits Geraint Thomas proved Ineos management wrong at Tour de France
Ineos Grenadiers director of sport lauds performance of Welshman along with Tom Pidcock
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Tour de France 2022: Jonas Vingegaard wins stage 18 on Hautacam to increase gap to Tadej Pogačar in second place
Danish rider wins a second stage to increase his grip on the overall lead ahead of Pogačar
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
‘I’ve still got the TT up my sleeve’: Geraint Thomas pins GC hopes on final Tour de France time trial
'If a situation works for both of you then yeah, definitely we’d work together' - Welshman refuses to rule out alliance with Tadej Pogačar
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Geraint Thomas shadows Vingegaard and Pogačar to move up to third at the Tour de France
Welshman follows attacks on Alpe d'Huez to cement general classification position
By Adam Becket • Published
-