Stephen Roche

Stephen Roche (b. November 28 1959 in Dublin, Ireland) is a retired professional bicycle racer.

Roche went professional in 1980 and won Paris-Nice the following year. He did well in the Tour de France in 1983 and 1984 finishing in 13th and 25th, respectively. In 1985 he finished only four and a half minutes behind the winner, Bernard Hinault. In 1986 after switching sponsors from Peugeot to Carrera, Roche took a bad fall in Paris-Bercy and wasn't able to perform well in the other races that year.

Then, in 1987, Roche had a tremendous Spring season. With Hinalut's retirement, and Greg LeMond injured in a hunting accident, the field was clear for the Tour de France and the yellow jersey changed hands several times before Roche finally won the tour. Roche became only the fifth racer in history to win the Tour de France and the Giro d'Italia in the same year. Then, at the World Cycling Championship, Roche became only the second cyclist in history to have won the Triple Crown of Cycling.

In 1993, Roche retired from professional cycling and subsequently established bicycle training camps on the Spanish island of Majorca.

Quotes

"While it is a very hard and sometimes very cruel profession, my love for the bike remains as strong now as it was in the days when I first discovered it. I am convinced that long after I have stopped riding as a professional I will be riding my bicycle. I never want to abandon my bike. I see my grandfather, now in his seventies and riding around everywhere. To me that is beautiful. And the bike must always remain a part of my life."
—Stephen Roche