Cycling: Roche gives a helping hand

STEPHEN ROCHE, now aged 33 and in his last season, did his Carerra team-mate, Claudio Chiappucci, a favour yesterday when he forced the pace in the third stage of the Tour of Italy from Rieti to Scanno.

The Irishman, winner of the French and Italian tours in 1987, thought he was heading for a stage win. 'I attacked because I thought I had a chance,' he said. 'My legs are still good but they are not 1987 vintage.

'It made our opponents work a bit harder and encouraged us as well. Claudio was kept under close surveillance today.'

Another veteran, Piotr Ugrumov, a 32-year-old Latvian, won the stage, helping his Mecair team-mate Moreno Argentin hold on to the leader's pink jersey.

Ugrumov, who moves to second overall, came home clear of Italian Enrico Zaina, France's Luc Leblanc and Roche, who had made the break together.