Cyclismas
  • Home
  • Features
    • Reviews
    • Interviews
    • Delusions of Grimpeur
    • Two Cone Wrenches and a Megaphone
    • News or Not…?
    • Photography
    • Cartoons and Illustrations
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Veloclinic
    • View from the Peloton
    • Viewpoint
  • Podcasts
    • Open Mic
    • Race Radio
  • Videos
  • Contact Us
Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Youtube
General News, News or Not...? 4

Nicolas Roche withdraws from 2012 Tour de France roster

By admin · On January 5, 2012

In a surprise move, the WorldTour team AG2R announced that Nicolas Roche would not be part of their roster contesting the 2012 Tour de France due to a conflict with mandatory UCI schooling.

How much of his autobiography did Roche actually write?

 

“The UCI has notified us that Roche is required to enroll in English grammar classes, in order to have his proficiency reach the required WorldTour levels. The UCI requires all riders to be fluent in at least one native language. Unfortunately, Irish isn’t one, and we’re working hard to get his English up to par,” commented general manager Vincent Lavenu.

UCI WorldTour rules state that each rider must have basic native language proficiency in order to receive their licence, and that a temporary licence can be issued for six months to allow for the completion of the testing.

Cyclismas has learned through leaked documentation that Roche has failed the UCI test three times, and that the UCI has allegedly covered up the failures. When reached for comment UCI spokesperson Enrico Carpani was definitive in his answer.

“There is no conspiracy. Nicolas has not completed his mandatory language test requirement. I cannot confirm or deny that he has taken the test in the past, but he is scheduled to take it in July. It unfortunately means he cannot be at the Tour de France this year,” stated Carpani.

This does call into question how much of his autobiography, Inside the Peloton, was written by the professional cyclist. His latest defense of the autobiography on Twitter in a conversation with Cyclismas contributor @fmk_RoI confirmed the need for classes to shore up his English-language proficiency.

New Peloton Magazine editor-at-large John Wilcockson was quick to defend Roche, “The lad is great on his bike, and he has started creating phenomenal new words for the cycling language, including the brilliant word ‘determinated’ which he used with class on Twitter yesterday.”

Roche refused to clarify any statements in English. However, score.ie did provide transcripts of some of his tweets, sadly highlighting the need for UCI grammar courses.

Lavenu confirmed that John Gadret would be the sole leader for AG2R at the Tour.

 

@fmk_RoIEnrico Carpanijohn wilcocksonjon gadretNicolas RochePat McQuaid
Share Tweet

admin

You Might Also Like

  • Aaron tweet about refunds to donors General News

    Latest legal update concerning Aaron Brown and the Kimmage Defense Fund

  • open_mic General News

    Open Mic with Mike Creed – Creedasaurus Rex

  • gloomy cobbles General News

    The end of the road

4 Comments

  • dougeg says: January 5, 2012 at 5:51 pm

    Wikipedia: Irish (Gaeilge), also known as Irish Gaelic,[1] is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a small minority (approx. 72,000) of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of the population. Irish enjoys constitutional status as the national and first official language of the Republic of Ireland. It is an official language of the European Union and an officially recognised minority language in Northern Ireland.

    I don’t know why the UCI feels the need to dictate to their members, which languages are native or not. Mr. Roche’s native language appears to be Irish Gaelic. and I understood his second language English, from his tweets, with no problem. He can sign a check can’t he? What’s the dang deal?

    Frank Mercer, author/ journalist. You sir are the self proclaimed cycling snark? Snark, that’s an xxxhole isn’t it? Did Roche spit on you or what? Long shot, you’re PR for AG2R maybe buddies with Gadret .

    Cyclismis: this kind of journalism “sadly highlights the need” for edi …. no, wait a sec….heh you got me, didn’t ya? It’s a joke right, Ya “JOKE JOURNALISM ” I get it !!…..Man!! …. Wow, you really got me, toooo funny!!

    Right?

    Reply
    • Frank Mercer says: January 5, 2012 at 7:46 pm

      Mr. Roche was raised in both France and Ireland and is very proficient in both languages. He is an accomplished rider with a great sense of humor, and discovering the ins and outs of twitter.

      I am not self proclaimed at anything. I just write the stories, and hope to bring broader attention to the nuances pro cycling, the greatest sport on the planet, which I have had the luck of being able to cover for 30 years.

      Satire and humor are two of the greatest devices in the written word. Sorry if it may have offended you, as that is not the intention. Thanks for reading.

      Frank

      Reply
  • Cormacobric says: January 6, 2012 at 6:48 am

    I’ve seen/ heard interviews with Roche, he can speak english just fine. So he failed the english tests a few times, his spellings in twitter are highlighted too . . .Stop and think for a minute folks, could the guy have a reading writing issue? Give the guy a flippin break!!! Cop on!Its not those kind of tests we need to worry about cyclists failing. What a complete farce

    Reply
  • Happy birthday Nico Roche | VeloVoices says: July 2, 2012 at 8:03 pm

    […] Both boys are writing diaries for different Irish newspapers during the Tour: Nico in the Irish Independent  and Dan for the Irish Times. Nico’s recent book Inside the Peloton was largely based on his previous diaries for the same newspaper and gives the reader some insight into the highs and lows on the road. Of course this year’s Tour could have been oh so different if we’re to believe the tongue-firmly-in-cheek and amusing reports from Cyclismas. […]

    Reply
  • Leave a reply Cancel reply

    Subscribe & Follow

    Follow @cyclismas
    Follow on Instagram
    Follow on rss
    Ad
    Ad
    • Popular
    • Comments
    • Tags
    • Groundhog Day for Cycling?

      October 17, 2012
    • Wiggins lets the insults fly!

      July 7, 2012
    • The Legend of the 500

      July 11, 2012
    • Paul Kimmage Defense Fund

      September 20, 2012
    • What is my trouble with a Team Sky Tour de France victory?

      July 19, 2012
    • firstclasswristband says: Personalize your silicone wristband to suit a special occasion. You can choose...
    • anihpzkneaye123 says: This post is worthy of appreciation, looking forward to more exciting!    <...
    • Rhodesy94 says: What a massive anticlimax. Here I am at 2:16am, trawling through the internet ...
    • dalee18 says: This video has been removed from YouTube - any chance we can get it reposted??...
    • SEO Services in Chennai says: Unable to play the video,  i am getting a message "The plug in is vulnerable"...
    UCI Pat McQuaid Lance Armstrong Tour de France Team Sky Doping Johan Bruyneel Brad Wiggins Jonathan Vaughters Hein Verbruggen cyclocross Jonny Gunn Sven Nys #SVENNESS Cyclismas Cycling News Network Ripp Finklemann In the Crosshairs Mark Cavendish

    Find us on Facebook

    Latest Videos

    • Road Reel Ep. 4 thumb

      Cyclismas Road Reel – Episode 4

      August 1, 2013
    • Michelle road reel thumbnail

      Cyclismas Road Reel – Tour de France Exclusive with Michelle Cound

      July 15, 2013
    • Star Tours preview image

      Star Tours preview

      July 1, 2013
    • Screen Shot 2013-07-04 at 7.15.35 PM

      Cyclismas Road Reel – Episode 3

      June 29, 2013
    • roadreelbanner

      Cyclismas Road Reel – Episode 2

      June 3, 2013
    • Home
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Youtube

    About Cyclismas

    A fresh take on cycling satire and commentary, Cyclismas is an alternative to traditional cycling news coverage; we challenge conventional cycling wisdom with a wide variety of voices, using a variety of media – all with integrity, but not without humor.

    Recent Comments

    • Electric Bikes at the Giro???? | A Scotsman in Suburbia on Fake cyclists
    • Cuantificación del entrenamiento mediante CERVEZAS - Análisis de productos. ZitaSport on A different approach to comparing climbing performances
    • Omloop der Geruchten » Extrasport // Eigenzinnig sportnieuws on So just who is Dr. Jose Ibarguren Taus?

    Latest News

    • open mike fillmore banner copy

      OpenMic with Mike Creed – Frank Pipp

      February 10, 2015
    • open mike fillmore banner copy

      Open Mic with Mike Creed – Chris Carmichael

      October 22, 2014
    • open mike fillmore banner copy

      Open Mic with Mike Creed – Not Kiel Reijnen and Alex Howes

      October 15, 2014

    Search

    © 2013 Cyclismas Cyclismas LLC