Nico at the Vuelta, Schleck at the bar

©greenjersey.wordpress.com

Ireland's top cyclist Nicolas Roche (right) is doing remarkable things in the Vuelta a España at the moment. And the same can be said of Andy Schleck.

Roche currently lies in ninth position in the overall classement with less than half of the race to go.

Three top ten finishes in the opening six stages have meant that Roche has been able to solidify a strong position at the head of the race.

Many giants of the cycling world have been left in his wake: Denis Menchov (twice Vuelta a España winner 2005, 2007, Giro d'Italia winner 2009), Carlos Sastre (Tour de France winner 2008), and Fränk Schleck (twice fifth in Tour de France while helping out his brother Andy, 2008, 2009) are all behind Roche in the overall classement.

(L-R) Alberto Contador, Andy and Fränk Schleck

©nj.com

But the story making the headlines today is that Andy Schleck (twice Tour de France runner up, 2009, 2010) has been kicked out of the tour by team management for drinking.

Andy Schleck was in 77th spot, more than 37 minutes behind the leader on Monday. His role in the race was as a domestique for older brother Fränk who is currently 10th.

Appartenly Schleck - along with team mate and track cycling star Stuart O'Grady - went down to the bar and helped themselves.

Mad.

This is Roche's first year as the leader of a Grand Tour team. It is the job of the other eight members of the team to protect Roche and get him as high up the overall standings as possible.

Roche is therefore under constant pressure from his own colleagues - as well as sponsors and managment - and to achieve a high placing.  Simply put, they won't get paid unless he gets paid.

To make matters even more intense for Roche, his team Ag2r-La Mondiale is French based. And the sporting media in France is as expectant as it is savage. A brief look at how they dealt with the national soccer team's performance at this year's World Cup is an indication of what they can be like.

But Roche seems to have them on his side as the hugely popular sporting daily L'Équipe described him as "one of the revelations" of this year's Tour de France.

Roche had a successful Tour de France this year (see video) finishing in the top 15; a result which could have been even better if he had not been shafted by one member of his own team. (That story deserves an entry of its own later, but here's a bit to whet your appetite.)

So here's hoping Nico can keep the time gap between the leader and him to a minimum. The figure is currently at 2m 30 sec but could well change as the Vuelta goes into the high mountains in the next few days.

Check out his blog too, good stuff.