Roche signed a two-year contract with following the disbandment of . For most part of the year and after a solid performance in the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré, Roche was in consideration for the Tour de France team and after winning the Irish National Road Race Championships for the first time in June 2009, it was announced that Roche had been selected by to ride his first Tour de France the following month. He had a fine debut Tour, finishing in 23rd place overall and 5th in the points classification. He had five top ten placings in the race and finished 2nd on stage 14.