Beautiful. I was a sophomore in college on our universities bicycle racing team. We would watch these races and dream of these champions. It's even better when the winners are such nice men like Roche.
I remember watching Roche's post-TDF parade in Dublin from my office window in Ely Place. My first job - I was 18. Thousands of fans everywhere and Roche was on his open-topped bus. Sean Kelly had made cycling huge in Ireland by then but Roche stepped it up a level in 87 and even Kelly knew he was in his shadow. Great memories.
@@neilplatt1111 I alwayr s wished Roche would have stayed just one more year. Carrera had offered him a good contract for that season. He still had a lot of fight in him. But i believe the drugs in sport was getting worse. That explains why the racing was so fast. Cycling was exciting back then. Its utter, utter, utter shit now. Disguising looking racing bikes that look like mountain bikes and skinny gay men who survive on a diet of peanuts and soya milk. I guess thats to save the planet 😂. Remember Merkx and Freddy Martins eat steaks before a race. Not like the snow flakes today.
nice tribute, even though you forgot his last TDF stage win in La Bourboule in 92, which was a foggy day, and it makes it a little epic, still a nice tribute to a legend.
I'm amazed, I still break down in tears when I see what he did, knowing what this poor great man had suffered. I am still so fiercely proud of him. He is our darling, he shares our blood. Is Éireannach é. Míle buíochas dó.
There is an interesting video of hun and David Walsh going at it. Walsh basically saying his name is in the coni files, but this was before Walsh had vindication for the Lance stuff and Roche played on that.
An incredible year and bike rider, I've loved cycling ever since. Myself and my brother went to his cycling camp in Palma Nova several times and met Stephen. A great experience, really sad what happened there. 🇮🇪
Unlike a certain other someone................., he NEVER sucked wheels as did that certain other someone who was notorious for same and then always complained. Roche was always a class act. One of the best of his time.
Yeah... You know, as we were coming to the end of this (wonderful) montage of Roche's dream year, I was glad to see it that the video was ending in 1987. The rest of his career was just so bitter-sweet and tragic. It still brings tears to the eyes. One can only wonder what might have been, and I for one, would have been happy with fate, if Roche had been given just one more good year. It's an awful pity that he didn't meet Dr. Muller Wohlfahrt earlier, as he could have prevented a LOT of Roche's woes, particularly things like the back issue which developed from the asymmetrical riding. Because of his tender left knee, he was putting out a lot more force with his right leg which put out discs in his back. There's more which could have been prevented too like the kneecap grating on the ends of the other bones etc. But, in particular I felt great sympathy for Roche because many other riders of his generation had had their problems but then had some fantastic years again afterwards. Le Mond in particular would come to mind. Roche only had the one year at his best. He was such a beautifully stylish rider too. He made cycling look SO good, like he was the embodiment of perfected youth and vitality. I just ache for him.
On the contrary, it was conclusive and damning of Roche and many at Carrera during this period. They turned a gregario in Chiappucci (and a few of his old team mates i.e. Perini, Ghirotto) into a top rider, after years of setbacks it must've been very attractive for Roche to go 'home' and have a good couple of years. As fans, it can be hard to see our heroes for what they are. Paid professionals.
Not a Roche fan - even less a fan of Visentini - but he was a good rider on his day. That said, does anyone seriously think he’d have won the Tour if LeMond hadn’t been shot?
What if Geoff Hurst's goal was cancelled.?what if Steve gerrard hadn't slipped.what if Cassius clays gloves didnt become???????It's all what iffs?if gordan banks hadn't been poisoned.and Bobby Charlton been substituted.England would have beaten Germany.History says Steven Roche won the tour!And in my humble opinion.he won it by being the best rider there that year.Thats all that matters.
Dope dope dope dope. Funny how people now believe Froome when he went up the mountains even faster then Armstrong on dope. Circles of cycling . It just keeps on going
I hate to break it to you guys, but it has been impossible to win any top level bike race in the last 30 years at least without performance enhancing drugs...this is a fact.
Jesus Christ is Lord for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life
Oh stop it with your inferiority complex. Cycling is traditionally a continental European sport, that’s what’s being referred to. Stop feeling shitty about yourself because of where you’re from.
The man who kick-started my lifelong love for this beautiful sport. Class on and off the bike.
Stephen Roche got me into cycling he is my icon in cycling .
Didn't he dope?
Beautiful. I was a sophomore in college on our universities bicycle racing team. We would watch these races and dream of these champions. It's even better when the winners are such nice men like Roche.
I remember watching Roche's post-TDF parade in Dublin from my office window in Ely Place. My first job - I was 18. Thousands of fans everywhere and Roche was on his open-topped bus. Sean Kelly had made cycling huge in Ireland by then but Roche stepped it up a level in 87 and even Kelly knew he was in his shadow. Great memories.
My all time favorite rider.
He is one of my favorites.
Happy Birthday Stephen
60 Today
Always looked great on the bike like Lemond.
it looked effortless! but of course to be a champion you have to go beyond what most can or will suffer!
closest i seen to roche was joey mcloughlin
Classy rider and a lovely man.
One of my favorite racers. So smooth in the time trials.
Great to such knowledgeable and respectful comments here.
My Hero! Pure class on the bike. Bought the vittoria stephen roche shoes at the time.
My number 1 rider of all time, I was 16 in 1987. What a year
👍👍👍
I was 17
I was 12
@@taichihead42 19, like a rolex on the bike, pure class.
@@neilplatt1111 I alwayr s wished Roche would have stayed just one more year. Carrera had offered him a good contract for that season. He still had a lot of fight in him. But i believe the drugs in sport was getting worse. That explains why the racing was so fast. Cycling was exciting back then. Its utter, utter, utter shit now. Disguising looking racing bikes that look like mountain bikes and skinny gay men who survive on a diet of peanuts and soya milk. I guess thats to save the planet 😂. Remember Merkx and Freddy Martins eat steaks before a race. Not like the snow flakes today.
nice tribute, even though you forgot his last TDF stage win in La Bourboule in 92, which was a foggy day, and it makes it a little epic, still a nice tribute to a legend.
Lovely man fantastic competitor.
Pure Class.
Love him his fearless attitude such class a career cut short but still on a pedastel with mercx
I'm amazed, I still break down in tears when I see what he did, knowing what this poor great man had suffered. I am still so fiercely proud of him.
He is our darling, he shares our blood. Is Éireannach é. Míle buíochas dó.
Class Act, beautiful bikes too. . . .
There is an interesting video of hun and David Walsh going at it. Walsh basically saying his name is in the coni files, but this was before Walsh had vindication for the Lance stuff and Roche played on that.
An incredible year and bike rider, I've loved cycling ever since. Myself and my brother went to his cycling camp in Palma Nova several times and met Stephen. A great experience, really sad what happened there. 🇮🇪
Unlike a certain other someone................., he NEVER sucked wheels as did that certain other someone who was notorious for same and then always complained. Roche was always a class act. One of the best of his time.
I’m curious “who” your talking about and what “sucked wheels” means.
Love it
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
The day after that climb is worrying. Smacks of blood transfusions. I hope he was clean but... yeah
No mention of the last 2 years at Carrera? A quick search of Wikipedia may perhaps explain why...
Yeah...
You know, as we were coming to the end of this (wonderful) montage of Roche's dream year, I was glad to see it that the video was ending in 1987. The rest of his career was just so bitter-sweet and tragic. It still brings tears to the eyes. One can only wonder what might have been, and I for one, would have been happy with fate, if Roche had been given just one more good year.
It's an awful pity that he didn't meet Dr. Muller Wohlfahrt earlier, as he could have prevented a LOT of Roche's woes, particularly things like the back issue which developed from the asymmetrical riding. Because of his tender left knee, he was putting out a lot more force with his right leg which put out discs in his back. There's more which could have been prevented too like the kneecap grating on the ends of the other bones etc.
But, in particular I felt great sympathy for Roche because many other riders of his generation had had their problems but then had some fantastic years again afterwards. Le Mond in particular would come to mind.
Roche only had the one year at his best. He was such a beautifully stylish rider too. He made cycling look SO good, like he was the embodiment of perfected youth and vitality.
I just ache for him.
Agreed for the most part, but you forgot to mention the fact he was found to have taken EPO in those final 2 years at Carrera.
That was very inconclusive.
Plus it doesn't seem very likely that he would take drugs when about to retire risking damage to his fantastic reputation.
On the contrary, it was conclusive and damning of Roche and many at Carrera during this period. They turned a gregario in Chiappucci (and a few of his old team mates i.e. Perini, Ghirotto) into a top rider, after years of setbacks it must've been very attractive for Roche to go 'home' and have a good couple of years. As fans, it can be hard to see our heroes for what they are. Paid professionals.
EMC2Scotia Eeejit
Stephen was tough
Not a Roche fan - even less a fan of Visentini - but he was a good rider on his day. That said, does anyone seriously think he’d have won the Tour if LeMond hadn’t been shot?
Lemond would have had to battle Jean-François Bernard for team leadership.
@@TweedSuit LeMond beat out Hinault. JFB would learned his place with Greg pretty quickly had he not already.
@@jimbojimbo2977 I confess I don't like Roche. But the idea that he would have beaten a peak LeMond is laughable.
What if Geoff Hurst's goal was cancelled.?what if Steve gerrard hadn't slipped.what if Cassius clays gloves didnt become???????It's all what iffs?if gordan banks hadn't been poisoned.and Bobby Charlton been substituted.England would have beaten Germany.History says Steven Roche won the tour!And in my humble opinion.he won it by being the best rider there that year.Thats all that matters.
Not a chance but it was still a tremendous achievement for Roche.
Dope dope dope dope. Funny how people now believe Froome when he went up the mountains even faster then Armstrong on dope. Circles of cycling . It just keeps on going
nope on potatoes
People say he was taking drugs , but in fairness , they all were .
Not all.
Lazy explanation- roches later career tainted by drugs
Semo
I hate to break it to you guys, but it has been impossible to win any top level bike race in the last 30 years at least without performance enhancing drugs...this is a fact.
He was lucky not to be caught. His name was in the dr files
If started to rain he would have dissolved on the bike from all the doping .
Always a classy cyclist
Best doper Ireland has ever produced and followed in later years by the other patriot Michelle Smith De Bruin
Stop talking shite, Jimmy boy!
prove it gobshite
He took EPO like it was going out of fashion.
Who gives a fuck if everyone of them does it.
The epo KID
toi le noob que le bledart lui a foutu un punchline ?
Jesus Christ is Lord for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life
Wtf
Now he has become a shady character. With his financial dealings..
Pure junky
"English speaking rider...English speaking rider.... English speaking rider"... Can you get a more English commentary? So arrogant
I'll let it pass because it's Phil Liggett
Oh stop it with your inferiority complex. Cycling is traditionally a continental European sport, that’s what’s being referred to. Stop feeling shitty about yourself because of where you’re from.