He failed to finish at the 2010 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, but had greater success on the track: he was runner-up at the 5000 m national championships, came ninth at the European Cup 10000m and made his first appearance at the 2010 European Athletics Championships, where he came 19th. He improved his half marathon best to 1:03:16 hours with a fifth-place finish at the European Club's race, but did not run well at the 2010 European Cross Country Championships held in Albufeira, ending up in 40th while his teammates shared in the team silver medal. The following year he came fifth at the Almond Blossom Cross Country, then went on to take 40th place at the 2011 IAAF World Cross Country Championships. Rocha did not manage to finish the European Cup 10,000 m race. At the age of 35, he won his first continental cross country medal. He battled with Ayad Lamdassem in the final stages of the 2011 European Cross Country Championships and ended the race in third to take the individual bronze medal.