Stephen Roche facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Stephen Roche

Roche at the 1993 Tour de France
Personal information
Born	(1959-11-28) 28 November 1959 (age 65) Dundrum, County Dublin, Ireland
Height	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight	74 kg (163 lb; 11 st 9 lb)
Team information
Current team	Retired
Discipline	Road
Role	Rider
Rider type	All-rounder
Major wins
Grand Tours Tour de France General classification (1987) 3 individual stages (1985, 1987, 1992) 1 TTT stage (1987) Giro d'Italia General classification (1987) Combination classification (1987) 2 individual stages (1987) 1 TTT stage (1987) Stage races Paris–Nice (1981) Tour de Romandie (1983, 1984, 1987) Tour of the Basque Country (1989) Critérium International (1985, 1991) One-day races and Classics World Road Race Championships (1987) Other Super Prestige Pernod International (1987)

Stephen Roche (born 28 November 1959) is a famous Irish former professional cyclist. He had an amazing 13-year career. His best year was 1987. In that year, he achieved something very special called the Triple Crown. This means he won three major cycling events in the same year.

Only three male cyclists have ever won the Triple Crown. Stephen Roche was the second to do it. The Triple Crown includes winning the Tour de France, the Giro d'Italia, and the World Road Race Championship. The other two cyclists who achieved this are Eddy Merckx and Tadej Pogačar. Stephen Roche was known for his smooth pedaling style. However, he faced challenges with knee injuries after 1987. He still won 58 professional races in his career.

Early Life and Amateur Cycling

Stephen Roche grew up in Dublin, Ireland. He first trained as a machinist in a dairy. He also had a very successful amateur cycling career. He was part of the "Orwell Wheelers" club. His coach was Noel O'Neill.

In 1977, he won the Irish Junior Championship. Then, in 1979, he won the Rás Tailteann, a big race in Ireland. To get ready for the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow, he joined an amateur team in Paris. This team was called the Athletic Club de Boulogne-Billancourt.

Soon after arriving in France, Stephen won the amateur Paris–Roubaix race. He broke away from the main group with another rider, Dirk Demol. He then sprinted to victory at the finish line in Roubaix. His team manager told him he would be sent home if he didn't win.

He also placed well in other races. He finished 14th in the Sealink International stage race. However, a knee injury affected his performance at the Moscow Olympics. He finished 45th there. But when he returned to France, he won 19 races between August and October. This led to him signing a contract with the Peugeot professional cycling team for 1981.

Stephen Roche's Professional Career

Stephen Roche's first professional win was in the Tour of Corsica. He beat the famous cyclist Bernard Hinault. Less than a month later, he won Paris–Nice. He was the first new professional cyclist to win this race. He won despite being sick after a difficult descent.

He finished his first year as a pro with 10 victories. These included wins in the Tour de Corse and Circuit d'Indre-et-Loire. He also came second behind Hinault in the Grand Prix des Nations.

In 1982, his best result was second place in the Amstel Gold Race. In 1983, he continued to improve. He won the Tour de Romandie, Grand Prix de Wallonie, and Paris–Bourges. He finished 13th in the 1983 Tour de France. He ended 1983 with a bronze medal at the world cycling championship in Zurich.

In 1984, he won the Tour de Romandie again. He also won Nice-Alassio and Subida a Arrate. He was second in Paris–Nice. He finished 25th in the 1984 Tour de France.

In 1985, Stephen won the Critérium International and the Route du Sud. He was second in Paris–Nice and third in Liège–Bastogne–Liège. In the 1985 Tour de France, he won stage 18. He finished the entire race in 3rd place overall. He was 4 minutes and 29 seconds behind the winner, Bernard Hinault.

Dealing with Injuries

In 1986, Stephen Roche had a bad crash. This happened at a six-day event in Paris-Bercy. He hurt his right knee badly. This injury ruined his 1986 season. He had very few good results that year. He finished the 1986 Tour de France in 48th place. He described that Tour as "entering a dark tunnel" of pain.

His knee injury and later back problems kept coming back. He had many operations, but they only helped with the symptoms. Later, a doctor in Munich helped him without surgery. But the injury still needed constant care. By the end of his career, he couldn't race at his best. This was because of a back problem that made his left leg weaker. He said he rode the 1993 Tour de France "just for fun." He finished 13th in that race.

Stephen Roche's Amazing 1987 Season

Stephen Roche during a time trial at the 1987 Tour de France

The year 1987 was incredible for Stephen Roche. In the spring, he won the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana. He also won the Tour de Romandie for the third time. He finished fourth and won a stage in Paris–Nice. He also came second in Liège–Bastogne–Liège. This was the closest he ever came to winning a major 'Monument' Classic race.

In the 1987 Giro d'Italia, Stephen won three stages. This included a team win in a team time trial. He went on to win the overall race. He was the first person from outside mainland Europe to win the Giro. One stage in the Giro is especially remembered. Stephen broke away early, even though his team told him not to. He was caught later, but he still had the strength to attack again. He took the pink jersey (worn by the leader) from his teammate, Roberto Visentini.

Stephen finished the Giro feeling very tired. But he was a favorite to win the 1987 Tour de France. The 1987 Tour was very challenging, with 25 stages and many mountains. Stephen won stage 10, a long individual time trial. He also came second on stage 19.

On stage 21, which crossed two big mountains, Stephen attacked early. He was ahead for several hours but was caught on the last climb. His closest rival, Pedro Delgado, then attacked. Stephen was almost a minute and a half behind. But he managed to close the gap to just 4 seconds. After the finish, Stephen collapsed and needed oxygen. When asked if he was okay, he famously joked, "Yes, but I am not ready for a woman straight away."

The yellow jersey (for the overall leader) changed hands many times in that Tour. Stephen, Charly Mottet, Jean François Bernard, and Delgado all wore it. In the final time trial, Stephen had to make up a 30-second gap. He did it and won the Tour de France by just 40 seconds! This was one of the closest finishes ever. Stephen became only the fifth cyclist to win the Tour and the Giro in the same year. He was also the only Irishman to win the Tour de France.

Later that year, Stephen won the World Road Race Championship in Austria. This made him only the second cyclist ever to win the Triple Crown of Cycling. He won by attacking close to the finish line. He also won the Super Prestige Pernod International competition for the whole season.

In September 1987, Stephen was given the freedom of Dublin, his home city. A few days later, he rode in the Nissan Classic race in Ireland. He finished second behind Sean Kelly.

Later Career

Stephen Roche during an individual time trial at the 1993 Tour de France

After his amazing 1987 season, Stephen joined a new team, Fagor MBK. The 1988 season started badly for him. His knee injury came back, and his performance slowly declined. In 1989, he was second in Paris–Nice again. He also won the Tour of the Basque Country. He finished ninth in the 1989 Giro d'Italia. However, he had to leave the 1989 Tour de France because of his knee.

He changed teams again. In 1990, riding for Histor–Sigma, he won the Four Days of Dunkirk. In 1991, with Tonton Tapis–GB, he won the Setmana Catalana de Ciclisme and Critérium International. In the 1991 Tour de France, he missed the start of a team time trial. This meant he had to leave the race.

In the major Grand Tours, he finished ninth in the 1989 Giro d'Italia. He won a stage in the 1992 Tour de France in bad weather. He finished that Tour in ninth place overall. He also finished fifth in the last Nissan Classic race in Ireland. A year later, he was ninth in the 1993 Giro d'Italia and 13th in the 1993 Tour de France.

Stephen Roche retired from professional cycling at the end of 1993. His last win was a small race after the Tour de France.

Personal Life

Stephen Roche lives in Antibes, France. He is still involved in cycling. He has started cycling training camps in Majorca. He also helps organize races and works as a commentator for cycling events on Eurosport.

Stephen has four children with his former wife, Lydia. His son, Nicolas Roche, was also a professional cyclist until he retired in 2021. Nicolas won the Irish National Road Race Champion title in 2009 and 2016.

Stephen's brother, Lawrence Roche, was also a professional cyclist. He completed the Tour de France in 1991. They were teammates on the Tonton Tapis–GB team.

Stephen's nephew, Dan Martin, was also a professional cyclist. He won the Irish National Road Race Champion title in 2008.

Stephen Roche completed the 2008 New York Marathon.

Career Achievements

Major Results

Grand Tour Results Timeline

Grand Tour general classification results
Grand Tour	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993
Vuelta a España	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	14	—
Giro d'Italia	—	—	—	—	—	DNF	1	—	9	—	—	—	9
Tour de France	—	—	13	25	3	48	1	—	DNF	44	DNF	9	13
Major stage race general classification results
Race	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993
Paris–Nice	1	6	—	2	2	—	4	—	2	2	4	—	—
Tirreno–Adriatico	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	8	21
Tour of the Basque Country	—	—	—	—	—	—	12	—	1	6	7	6	22
Tour de Romandie	—	—	1	1	—	—	1	—	—	—	—	—	13
Critérium du Dauphiné	26	—	—	6	—	—	—	—	—	7	—	—	—
Tour de Suisse	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	DNF	—
Volta a Catalunya	Did not contest during his career

Images for kids

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  Roche at the 1993 Tour de France

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  Roche riding in the final time trial at the 1987 Tour de France

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  Roche riding an individual time trial at the 1993 Tour de France

See also

In Spanish: Stephen Roche para niños