Stephen Roche

el tel

Stephen Roche's achievements are a monument however I was really surprised when he made those comments about not wanting to raise his children in Ireland where there are drug dealers on every corner. I have been looking for a reference but can't find it!It was a long time ago that he said that but from someone who, in a European sense at least, is well known, I thought it was a quite damaging to the country.

RobFowl

He was quite bitter after the Tour win at the lack of sponsorship offers from Ireland. Everyone wanted a piece of him but they mostly wanted it for free !!!

I always preferred Kelly but possibly in the way that football fans always look down on the Man U prawn sandwich brigade.

There was a sense that everyone loved Roche at the time because of the tour while us "proper cyclists" had known about Kelly's results long before they all jumped on the Tour result in 87.

iregk

RobFowl wrote: »

There was a sense that everyone loved Roche at the time because of the tour while us "proper cyclists" had known about Kelly's results long before they all jumped on the Tour result in 87.

In years to come everyone will remember the fact that Spain won the world cup in 2010. Very few will remember that Brazil were the current confederations cup champions.

RobFowl

iregk wrote: »

In years to come everyone will remember the fact that Spain won the world cup in 2010. Very few will remember that Brazil were the current confederations cup champions.

I can tell you Shay Elliot came 3rd in the vuelta in 62 and wore yellow in the TDF in 63 but can't remember who won either

Jawgap

Roche hit a rich vein of form and whatever the arguments about the field being weak in the TdF in 87, you can only beat the guys you're racing against - he did it. did it well and grabbed his opportunities with both hands.

Class, however, is timeless - Kelly had (and has) class.

07Lapierre

RobFowl wrote: »

I can tell you Shay Elliot came 3rd in the vuelta in 62 and wore yellow in the TDF in 63 but can't remember who won either

Some fella called "Jacques" wasn't it?

Chips Lovell

The Tour de France is not the World Cup.

RobFowl

07Lapierre wrote: »

Some fella called "Jacques" wasn't it?

?? Lance "Jacques" Armstrong

Chips Lovell

Jacques Anquetil only won because Lance Armstrong didn't enter that year.

RobFowl

el tonto wrote: »

Jacques Anquetil only won because Lance Armstrong didn't enter that year.

Anquetil was on drugs anyway, so Lance was the moral victor...

BGT

BryanL wrote: »

My family was at the tour a good few years in the 80's and all the |Irish cyclists would chat with you anytime you met them at the start or finish of the stage.
Roche was as friendly as any of them, I remember before the start of the dijon time trial in 87, he just gave us a little salute, even though it was as stressful a moment as any in his carreer? Delgado in yellow and all the expectation on Roche in second place.
I think he handled the kimmage book badly.
But was an huge talent in his day, didn't he walk away with a RAS win and win Paris-Nice in his first year as a Pro.
He only does one Sportive in Ireland, but i wonder is he invited to any more?
Bryan

Roche is doing one in Kildare this month, its on leinsterloop.com. Heard him on local radio last weekend, reckons he is only interested in doing a few, rather than taking up every offer that comes along. Runs a hotel in Nice, apparently.

Don't think there's any need for a divide in Kelly/Roche debate. Different riders, Kelly was stronger, Roche probably classier. Such a freak situation that thsi small Island should produce 2 of the best at the same time.

Limestone1

RobFowl wrote: »

He was quite bitter after the Tour win at the lack of sponsorship offers from Ireland. Everyone wanted a piece of him but they mostly wanted it for free !!!

I remember he did some cheese ad where he popped his head out from behind a newpaper and gave a big cheesey grin ...made me cringe every time I saw it ...I'd say that ad killed a lot of potential sponsorships

mloc123

BGT wrote: »

Runs a hotel in Nice, apparently.

Oh, did he mention he runs a hotel? He doen't usually go on about it much....

jwshooter

BGT wrote: »

Roche is doing one in Kildare this month, its on leinsterloop.com. Heard him on local radio last weekend, reckons he is only interested in doing a few, rather than taking up every offer that comes along. Runs a hotel in Nice, apparently.

Don't think there's any need for a divide in Kelly/Roche debate. Different riders, Kelly was stronger, Roche probably classier. Such a freak situation that thsi small Island should produce 2 of the best at the same time.

he could do with the exercise ,the size of him gone

High Nellie

They were both great but in different ways. It's like comparing a full-back and full-forward in a football team and asking which was the greatest.
There is no doubt that Kelly was winning the likes of Roubaix and the general public in Ireland took little or no notice. In 'public' terms, the 'Kelly/Roche' era began when the Dub was picked up by the Irish media. This, of course, wan't Roche's fault.
Isn't it just great that we can claim them both, and that both are still contributing so much to the profile of the sport.

nuclearned

Kelly punching the air (did he come in fourth?)when Roche won the worlds twas like he had won himself,they both gave us terasured memories,

spyderski

It's possible that the lack of sponsorship from Ireland was due to the fact that (bit like now) no-one had a pot to piss in at the time. Roche comes across as hungry - constantly mentioning the hotel etc., but Kelly wouldn't be the first man to the bar either, from what I've heard.
Anyway, both international cycling legends from this little island, at the same time. Lets hope the next generation can produce more of the same.