By Nicola McCarthyBBC Sport NI
Last updated on .From the section Cycling
There really is a first time for everything, but it’s hard to imagine Irish cyclist Nicolas Roche could have predicted that some time in his career he would compete against some of the world’s best riders from his Monaco apartment balcony.
But, thanks to digital technology and home trainers, that’s exactly what he’s been doing, as the world of professional cycling adapts to the current climate.
First came the virtual Tour of Flanders in early April, which featured 13 riders, before the Tour de Suisse or Digital Swiss 5 at the end of the month involving 50 cyclists, where Roche, riding for Team Sunweb, claimed his first virtual victory.
“It’s been a whole new experience,” says an enthusiastic Roche.
“It takes quite some preparation, in terms of logistics. The teams have to send the pro package with the official sponsors etc. In terms of technology, there we 16 different cameras on riders for each race.
‘It was a little tight on my balcony’
“I was on the live broadcast on the Sunday, so I had to download all the applications, set up accounts and to set up the camera, I had to move all my furniture inside my apartment, as it was a little tight on my balcony.
“When something is new, you just never know exactly what to expect, with anything – how physically hard it’s going to be, the preparation, the nerves of logging in, of losing connection and all these things.
“I remember when I did my first pre-race test six weeks ago, my legs completely exploded and I thought, wow, I can never do 45 minutes at that speed!
“It’s really incredible what they managed to do though in organising the races and making it work, it was fun! It’s never going to replace a normal race, but in these times, it’s as good as it’s going to get.”
Tour of France start put back to 29 August
There has been mass disruption to the cycling calendar, including the Tour de France, which has already been rescheduled to begin in Nice on 29 August.
However, with French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe announcing on Tuesday that no major sporting events can take place until at least September, it casts more doubt over the three-week event.
“No one can say today definitely [that The Tour will go ahead],” admits Roche, son of 1987 Tour winner Stephen Roche.
“I really and extremely hope so. I think it’s so important for the sport that the Tour goes ahead. But not only the Tour, because remember, the Tour de France is only 20 teams and eight riders per team. There’s more than 1000 professionals, there’s 30 or 40 teams [in the sport].
“So, the Tour would be amazing obviously for the top of cycling, but what’s important is that the whole cycling season starts at some point and gives a chance, not only to the big teams and to myself and the other bigger riders, but also to everyone.
“There’s some young people making big sacrifices in order to turn pro and there’s also riders looking to renegotiate contracts – so it’s really important for everyone.”