Nicolas Roche took his third top twelve placing in this year’s Vuelta a España when he sprinted to an excellent ninth place in Tuesday’s fourth stage.
The 24-year-old Irishman finished three seconds behind the stage winner Daniele Bennati (Liquigas), who out-sprinted former world champion Tom Boonen (Quick Step), Koldo Fernandez (Euskaltel Euskadi) plus five others.
The peloton was fragmented due to a crash just outside the three kilometres to go point.
Roche finished eleventh on Sunday and fifth in Monday's stage.
He said: 'I was ninth on the stage, am seventh overall in the points competition and 14th in the general classification – that’s not bad. Once again Jeremy Hunt did a great job for me today.'
Roche is one minute ten seconds behind Bennati in the overall standings, holding that fine 14th place. The Grand Tour continues tomorrow with a 42.5 kilometre time trial starting and finishing in Ciudad Real.
