Stephen Roche - Movies, Photos & Biography

Quick Copy Link

Share on Social Media

Popular

Professional

More Options

Photos Profile Poster Backdrop Stills Logo Event Publicity Product Behind the Scenes Photos Other Photos Unknown Photos Videos Awards

Stephen Roche (born 28 November 1959) is an Irish former professional road racing cyclist. In a 13-year professional career, he peaked in 1987, becoming the second of only two cyclists to win the Triple Crown of victories in the Tour de France and the Giro d'Italia general classification, plus the World road race championship, the first was Eddy Merckx. Roche's rise coincided with that of fellow Irishman Sean Kelly.

Although one of the finest cyclists of his generation and admired for his pedalling style, he struggled with knee injuries and never contended in the Grand Tours post-1987. He had 58 professional career wins. All of these wins still stand, despite Roche having been accused by an Italian judge of taking EPO in the later part of his career.

On completion of his apprenticeship as a machinist in a Dublin dairy and following a successful amateur career in Ireland with the "Orwell Wheelers" club coached by Noel O'Neill of Dundrum (which included winning the Irish Junior Championship in 1977 and the Rás Tailteann in 1979), Roche joined the Athletic Club de Boulogne-Billancourt amateur team in Paris to prepare for the 1980 Olympic games in Moscow. Soon after his arrival Roche won the amateur Paris–Roubaix, escaping with Dirk Demol and sprinting to victory on the track at Roubaix. Roche was told by his directeur sportif that if he did not win he "would be sent home to Ireland that day".

He also finished on the podium at the early-season Paris–Ezy road race and finished 14th overall in the Sealink International stage race which was won by Bob Downs. However, a knee injury caused by a poorly fitted shoe plate led to a disappointing ride in Moscow, where he finished 45th. However, on return to France, August to October saw Roche win 19 races. That led to a contract with the Peugeot professional cycling team for 1981.

Roche scored his first professional victory by beating Bernard Hinault in the Tour of Corsica. Less than a month later he won Paris–Nice (where he became the first, and still the only, new pro to win Paris–Nice) despite illness following the descent from Mont Ventoux and finished his debut season with victories in the Tour de Corse, Circuit d'Indre-et-Loire and Étoile des Espoirs races with a second place behind Hinault in the Grand Prix des Nations. In total, his debut yielded 10 victories.

In 1982 his best performance was second in the Amstel Gold Race behind Jan Raas, but his rise continued in 1983 with victories in the Tour de Romandie, Grand Prix de Wallonie, Étoile des Espoirs and Paris–Bourges. In the 1983 Tour de France, Roche finished 13th and he finished the 1983 season with a bronze medal in the world cycling championship at Alterheim in Zurich.

In 1984, riding for La Redoute following contractual wrangles with Peugeot (the settlement of which led Roche to sport Peugeot shorts for two years before winning a court action against Vélo Club de Paris Peugeot) he repeated his Tour de Romandie win, won Nice-Alassio, Subida a Arrate and was second in Paris–Nice. He finished 25th in that year's Tour de France. ...

Source: Article "Stephen Roche" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.

Stephen Roche Photos

See All

All Photos

Filmography

Actor

Type

Year

Ned's history of Irish cycling Feature Film2022Self

Tubridy Tonight TV Series2004Self

Chambéry-Les Arcs, une Vélographie de Gérard Courant Poster

Chambéry-Les Arcs, une Vélographie de Gérard Courant Documentary1996Self

Chambéry-Les Arcs, une Vélographie de Gérard Courant (La Bande Annonce) Short Film1996Self

Coude à Coude (Carnet Filmé: 5 juillet 1996 - 6 juillet 1996) Poster

Coude à Coude (Carnet Filmé: 5 juillet 1996 - 6 juillet 1996) Documentary1996Self

Champs-Elysées TV Series1982Self

Wogan TV Series1982Self

Le grand échiquier TV Series1972Self

Featured Celebrity Photos

See All

Miku Martineau Shines at Netflix End of Summer Bash at LAYLA Restaurant in Los Angeles

Sofia Wylie Shines at Netflix End of Summer Bash at LAYLA Restaurant in Los Angeles

Lauren Donzis Shines at Netflix End of Summer Bash at LAYLA Restaurant in Los Angeles

Charlotte Lawrence Shines at MAC Lustreglass Event in Los Angeles

Madelyn Cline Shines at Netflix End of Summer Bash at LAYLA Restaurant Los Angeles

Katheryn Winnick at the 22nd Annual HollyShorts Film Festival in Los Angeles

Dua Lipa Spotted Departing JFK International Airport in New York

Taya Miller Shines at DC Studios' Lanterns Premiere at Paramount Theatre Los Angeles

Madison Bailey Shines at Netflix End of Summer Bash at LAYLA Restaurant Los Angeles

Livvy Dunne Enjoys a Beach Day at Key Biscayne, Florida

Isla Fisher Joins Suzanne Todd and Jane Buckingham for Game Night in Beverly Hills

Frankie Essex Performs Live on Stage at Cadogan Hall, London

Chiara Ferragni Enjoys a Beach Day in Ibiza

Stassie Karanikolaou Enjoys a Stylish Boat Day in Sardinia

Jessica Alba Enjoys Night Out at Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles

Katseye Makes a Memorable Appearance on NBC's The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in NYC

Isla Fisher Attends SiriusXM's "Smith Sisters Live" Event in Los Angeles

Dakota Fanning Shines in Appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

Ora Duplass Shines at "Camp Rock 3" World Premiere in Burbank

Caylee Cowan Spotted Out and About in Los Feliz

Trinity Tatum Shines at Peacock's Love Island USA Season 8 Reunion in Los Angeles

Lily Collins Shoots Iconic "Emily in Paris" Scenes at Eiffel Tower

Bailee Madison Shines at the New York Premiere of “Don’t Say Good Luck”

Scarlett Estevez Shines at 'Don't Say Good Luck' New York Premiere

Demi Lovato Shines at Los Angeles Premiere of Disney's Camp Rock 3 in Burbank

Micaela Schafer Celebrates Katja's 30th Birthday at Ballhaus Berlin

Jenny Frankhauser Celebrates Katja's 30th Birthday at Ballhaus Berlin

Lindsay Price Attends Los Angeles Premiere of Disney's Camp Rock 3 in Burbank

Jackie Sandler Shines at the New York Premiere of "Don't Say Good Luck

Natalie Portman Spotted Exploring Paris Streets