Nicolas Roche Photo Gallery

Nicolas Roche (AG2R La Mondiale) on the podium after winning stage 3.

Two Irishmen at the top of the sport in Beijing - UCI President Pat McQuaid congratulates Nicolas Roche (AG2R La Mondiale) on winning his first Pro Tour race.

Nicolas Roche celebrates his first Pro Tour win by sprinting to victory in stage 3 from Men Tou Gou to Yong Ning Town.

Nicolas Roche (AG2R La Mondiale) leads the break on stage 20 from Bilbao to Victoria.

Nicolas Roche recovers from his effort on the Pena Cabarga. The AG2R La Mondiale rider finished 17th to move up to 17th in GC.

Nicolas Roche (AG2R La Mondiale) gives it everything on the Pena Cabarga.

Nicolas Roche pushes himself to the limit as the gradient tips 23% on the stage 15 finishing climb of the Alto de L'Angliru.

Nicolas Roche (AG2R La Mondiale) leads the break and teamate and leader of the mountains classification Matteo Montaguti on the Alto O'Pico Da Pena during stage 13.

Nicolas Roche (AG2R La Mondiale) fights to stay in contention having lost contact with the favourites inside the last 800 metres of stage 11 to the summit finish at Estacion de Montana Mazaneda.

Nicolas Roche (AG2R La Mondiale) on stage 10.

Nicolas Roche (AG2R La Mondiale) on his way to finishing 36th in the 47 kilometre stage 10 TT around Salamanca.

Cousins Dan Martin (Garmin Cervelo) and Nicolas Roche (AG2R La Mondiale) light it up with an attack inside the closing five kilometres of the stage 9 summit finish to La Covatilla.

Nicolas Roche (AG2R La Mondiale) in action on his way to finishing 8th on stage 5 to Valdepenas de Jaen.

Nicolas Roche (AG2R La Mondiale) takes encouragement from an Irish supporter during the 42.5 kilometre stage 20 individual time trial in Grenoble.

Nicolas Roche (AG2R La Mondiale) grinding it out on stage 19 to Alpe d Huez.

Nicolas Roche (AG2R La Mondiale) digging deep to hold onto third place as stage 18 winds its way over the summit finish on the Col du Galibier.

Nicolas Roche (AG2R La Mondiale) leads the break over the Col d'Izoard on stage 18 from Pinerolo to the highest ever finish on the Col du Galibier.

Nicolas Roche (AG2R La Mondiale) on the finishing climb to Pinerolo on stage 17 from Gap.

Nicolas Roche (AG2R La Mondiale) tried twice to escape in breakaways during stage 16 to Gap

Nicolas Roche had a tough day on stage 14 to Plateau de Beille losing 6'47". Check out the two AG2R La Mondiale fans on the roadside.

Nicolas Roche (AG2R La Mondiale) on his way to breaking into the Tour's top ten overall on the stage 12 summit finish to Luz-Ardiden

Nicolas Roche battle through a rain soaked stage 11 from Blaye-les-Mines to Lavaur to preseve his 13th place in the GC.

AG2R La Mondiale team leader Nicolas Roche hits top speed on the descent off the Cote de Mirandol Bourgnounac on stage 10 from Aurillac - Carmaux.

Nicolas Roche (AG2R La Mondiale) keeps warm during the early part of stage 7 to Chateauroux.

AG2R La Mondiale leader Nicolas Roche zips up as the rain hits the peloton on the 226.5km stage from Dinan to Lisieux.

Nicolas Roche (AG2R La Mondiale) keeps a vigilant eye on proceedings during stage 5 from Carhaix to Cap Frehel.

Nicolas Roche (AG2R La Mondiale) corners on his way to the climb of the Cote de la Croix-Rousse on stage 2 from Voiron to Lyon.

Dan Martin (Garmin Cervelo) and Nicolas Roche (AG2R La Mondiale) catch up during stage one from Albertville to Saint Pierre de Chartreuse.

Nicolas Roche (AG2R La Mondiale) eyes the next corner near the end of the 27km time-trial from Rognes to Aix-en-Provence.

Nicolas Roche (AG2R La Mondiale) during stage 4 from Creches-sur-Saone to Belleville

Ireland's Nicolas Roche digs deep on the punishing climb of The Ridge.

Nicolas Roche (AG2R La Mondiale) chases hard on the Bola del Mundo with Peter Velits (HTC Columbia), Joaquin Rodriguez (Katusha) and Frank Schleck (Saxo Bank) for company.

An attack from Nicolas Roche (AG2R La Mondiale) puts Frank Schleck (Saxo Bank) and Peter Velits (HTC Columbia) under pressure in the final kilometre of the climb to Bola del Mundo during stage 20.

Nicolas Roche (AG2R La Mondiale) at full tilt in the 46 kilometre stage 17 individual time trial in Penafiel.

Nicolas Roche (AG2R La Mondiale) leads Ezequiel Mosquera (Xacobeo Galicia) as a chase group of twenty riders nears the climb of the Cotobello on stage 16.

Nicolas Roche (AG2R La Mondiale) positions himself at the foot of the Lagos de Cavadonga climb in the company of (l-r) Frank Schleck (Saxo Bank) and Peter Velits (HTC Columbia).

Carlos Sastre (Cervelo Test Team) hangs on as Nicolas Roche (AG2R La Mondiale) leads the chase group on stage 15 to Lagos de Covadonga.

Nicolas Roche (AG2R La Mondiale) leaves nothing behind at the summit of Pena Cabarga where he placed 5th to move to 5th overall.

Nicolas Roche positions himself at the start of the first category Pena Cabarga on his way to finishing 5th on the stage and moving to 5th overall.

AG2R La Mondiale team leader Nicolas Roche climbs to 8th place in the Vuelta GC on the 20 per cent gradient of Xorret de Cati.

Philip Deignan (Cervelo Test Team) and Nicolas Roche (AG2R La Mondiale) share a joke during stage five to Lorca.

AG2R La Mondiale team leader Nicolas Roche sits comfortably on the decisive climb of the Puerto de Valdepenas during stage 4.

Nicolas Roche (AG2R La Mondiale) shows the pain of fighting to finish 8th on stage 4 to Valdepenas de Jaen where he overcame gradients of 25% to jump to 11th in the GC.

Nicolas Roche (AG2R La Mondiale) in full flight during the stage 19 Bordeaux to Pauillac individual time trial.

Nicolas Roche (AG2R La Mondiale) digs in near the summit of the Col du Tourmalet on the wheel of Damiano Cunego (Lampre-Farnese-Vini) to finish 12th on the stage 17.

Nicolas Roche (AG2R La Monidale) settling into the Col du Soulor on his way to moving up to 15th in GC on stage 17 to the Col du Tourmalet

Nicolas Roche (AG2R La Mondiale) climbs his way back into the group led by Alberto Contador on the Col d'Aspin

Nicolas Roche (AG2R La Mondiale) digs deep to finish 31 seconds behind stage 12 winner Joaquin Rodriguez (Katusha) in Mende.

Nicolas Roche (AG2R La Mondiale) fights to the finish to limit his losses after stage nine's Col de Madeleine

Nicolas Roche (AG2R La Mondiale) and Geraint Thomas (Team Sky) corner at speed while descending the Col des Saisies in during stage 9 to Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne.

Nicolas Roche (AG2R La Mondiale) works hard to limit his losses to 2:18 on stage 9 to Morzine-Avoriaz

Nicolas Roche gives chase on the cobbles on his way to finishing 12th on stage 3 to Arenberg Porte-du-Hainaut

Nicolas Roche in full flight during the Tour de France prologue time trial

Nicolas Roche on his way to finishing 47th in the Rotterdam prologue 49 seconds behind winner Fabian Cancellara

Nicolas Roche (AG2R La Mondiale) on the hors category climb on the Albulapass on his way to finishing 20th on the the queen stage of the Tour de Suisse