Stephen Roche

1987 Stephen Roche Giro TT

Stephen ROCHE

MaillotIrlanda

MaillotIrlanda

Jersey yellow

Jersey white

Stephen Roche (born 28 November 1960) is a retired professional road bicycle racer and road bicycle racing team manager from Ireland. He is one of only two cyclists to have won the Triple Crown of Cycling, which consists of winning the Tour de France, the Giro d'Italia, and the World Road Race Championship in the same year (1987). This remarkable achievement made him a household name and remains one of the highest accolades in cycling.

Early Life

Stephen Roche was born in Dundrum, Dublin, Ireland. From a young age, he showed a keen interest in cycling, a passion he inherited from his family. Roche's rise in the cycling world began with his success in amateur races in Ireland and then in France, where he moved to pursue his career further.

Professional Career

Roche turned professional in 1981 with the Peugeot cycling team. His career spanned over 13 years, during which he achieved numerous victories and podium finishes. His most notable achievements include winning the Giro d'Italia in 1987, the Tour de France in the same year, and the World Road Race Championship, also in 1987. Roche's victory in the Tour de France made him the first Irishman to win the event.

In addition to his Triple Crown achievement, Roche won the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré in 1981 and the Tour de Romandie in 1983. He also had success in one-day races, winning the Paris–Nice twice and the Tour of Lombardy.

Post-Racing Career

After retiring from professional racing in 1993, Roche remained active in the cycling world. He has worked as a team manager, commentator, and has been involved in various cycling promotion activities. Roche has also been an advocate for clean sport and has spoken out against doping in cycling.

Legacy

Stephen Roche's contributions to cycling and his remarkable achievements have made him one of the sport's legends. He was inducted into the Giro d'Italia Hall of Fame in 2014. Roche's success has inspired many young cyclists in Ireland and around the world.

Personal Life

Roche comes from a family with a strong cycling background. His son, Nicolas Roche, also became a professional cyclist, competing in the Tour de France and other major races.

See Also

• Cycling records
• List of Tour de France general classification winners
• List of Giro d'Italia general classification winners
• List of World Road Race Champions