The Conscripts / Stephen Roche

by RUPERT GUINNESS, The Foreign Legion (1993)

The heavy fog fell across Luz Ardiden, the rain continued, the temperature dropping at every minute. Lack of spectators at the Pyreneen summit finish of the 1992 Tour of Spain’s ninth stage said it all – there were obviously better places to be.

As Stephen Roche reached the finish line 7:23 behind stage winner, Spaniard Laudelino Cubino, his face was frozen blue, his eyes bloodshot and his teeth chattered like an electric typewriter. He was pushed towards the Carrera team truck and an awaiting soigneur whose forlorn look, when he saw the Irishman, sesembled a doctor’s in a hospital emergency ward. Roche – suffering from an agonising back injury whch would have stopped any lesser mortal long ago – had gone too far this time. Prised off his saddle, he spent a good three minutes trying to straighten his back as he leant against the truck. In between wipes and rub-downs from his soigneur, Roche coughed, spluttered and finally heaved a painful cry as he rediscovered am upright position he had not felt for seven hours. He slowly pulled himself into the truck, sat down and looked at me with a sunken expression which was so self-explanatory that it defied any sense in asking the inevitable: ‘How are you Stephen?’

I didn’t ask, I couldn’t. There was absolutely no need. Suddenly, in the stark absence of the usual tension and excitement of a race finish and sensing the seriousness of Roche’s conditionI simply asked if he saw the risk of doing irreparable damage by continuining with a race he did not want to start. Roche sighed, tried in vain to crack the beaming smile that television screens see day in and day out of the Tour – but failed – and said: ‘Perhaps, I don’t konw. I just have to finish this race. If I don’t, I won’t be ready for the French Tour.’ His head felle back into his hands, and I walked away felling total admiration for his courage.

Thre has probably been a no more charismatic member of the peloton in the last 20 years than him. He is a born winner and he proved it in 1987 when he did the remarkable and won the Tours of Italy and France and the world professional road championship – being only the second rider after Eddy Merckx in 1974 to do so. The signs were there well before then too: in 1981, his first year as a professional, he won the Tour of Corsica and Paris-Nice to everyone’s surprise, including his.

Furthermore, his record of successes has come from a popular aggressive flair which has won the hearts of so many. Even off the saddle Roche has left the public and media swooning after him – no matter what country or language, be it France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, England or Ireland, he seemingly fits into any environment.

Adding to the impact of Roche’ versatility and manner are also his looks. His chirpy smile, sad blue eyes, black curly hair and open face, ooze with sympathy. It sounds over the top, but it’s true. It sometimes seems that he just can’t go wrong. Of course this is not so, for a rider blessed with so many advantages, there has been a hefty dose of trouble thrown into his life: knee and back injuries, sponsor troubles and, as a consequence from the pressure, personal strife. All this has put him on the brink of retirement at least twice since 1987. He won the ‘Triple Crown’ that year, so rare was the feat that everyone said it would be unfair to expect Roche to do ita again. But nobody was prepared for the remorseless flow of misfortune which then beset his career.

He developed – however unintentionally – an awkward knack of giving two versions of the same story. Or, even worse, in attempting to lighten journalist’ affinity with him, Roche has sometimes targeted one for a public ribbing without realising the ridicule being heaped on them. Yes! I have been the victim of both, but to his credit he always apologised – an admirable act with which not many in the racing world would bother.

In mny ways Roche’s 1992 season – which ended with him saying he would retire at the end of 1993 – was his gratest victory of the lot. For while it was not laden with great wins (altough many great rides) it marked the end of the wave of misery he rode on after 1987. It also secured his hope of a celebrated rather than commiserated end to his career.

The most celebrated of his 1992 performances was his ninth place in the Tour de France. He also won the 16th stage to LA Bourbole after several nail-biting close calls in stages lading up to this cold, foggy, glorious day in the Massif Central. And his 15th place in the Vuelta was a triumph which deserved more recognition than it got – if just for his solitary and very unglorious struggle.

He is every bit the showman as much as he is a champions. But ife ver a cyclist was to prove the value on not giving up in life, then Roche is that man.

RUPERT GUINNESS, The Foreign Legion (1993)

Stephen Roche

Date of birth: 28 November, 1959

Place of birth: Dublin, Ireland

Teams: ACBB (Fra), Peugeot (Fra), La Redoute (Fra), Carrera (It), Fagor (Fra), Histor (bel), Tonton Tapis (Bel), Carrera (It)

Turned professional: 1981

Retired: 1993