Life After Peugeot – Stephen Roche
by Rupert Guiness – The Foreign Legion (1993) Roche has arguably had the most turbulent career of the lot. He has also been the most successful, with 1987 and his ‘Triple Crown’ triumph in the Tours of Italy, France and the world road title at Villach in Austria. Only the retired Belgian legend Eddy Merckx had ever accomplished the same feat in 1974. However his contractual wranglings and spate of injuries have earned as much headline space as his race results. Since leaving Peugeot after the 1984 season, Roche has ridden for six teams – La Redoute, Carrera, Fagor, Histor, Tonton Tapis and again Carrera, riding out his intended final season in 1993. Things started going wrong for Roche right from the start, in his first year out from Peugeot. It had nothing to do with his attitude or performance. On all accounts, 1984 was not a bad season with wins in Nice-Alassio, the Tour of Romandy and Subida a Arrate in Spain. He was also second in Paris-Nice, third i...