When Stephen Roche was king of cyclo-cross
Mon 20 Nov 2023 at 03:30
In December 1979, the Irish cycling legend lined up in the colours of Dundrum club Orwell Wheelers and took the honours in Balbriggan against some other soon-to-be-famous headline-makers
As Stephen Roche took the title by over three minutes, Raphael Kimmage took bronze ahead of brother Paul
Stephen Roche was Irish national cyclo-cross champion in 1979
While Stephen Roche lost traction and time to the lead quartet on the muddiest part of the course in the early laps, he always fought his way back to the front.
As Stephen Roche took the title by over three minutes,
Raphael Kimmage took bronze ahead of brother Paul
Stephen Roche was Irish national cyclo-cross champion in 1979
While Stephen Roche may be best remembered for being the first and only Irishman thus far to win the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia or world professional road race championships, long before all that the Dubliner was also Irish national cyclo-cross champion.
In December 1979 – the same year he took two stage wins on his way to becoming the youngest winner of the nine-day Rás Tailteann – Roche lined up in the colours of his Dundrum club Orwell Wheelers for the Irish National Cyclo-cross Championships which were held on a course based at the rear of the church car park in the seaside town of Balbriggan, north County Dublin.
Among Roche’s competitors that day were some other soon-to-be-famous names in Irish cycling.
Brothers Paul and Raphael Kimmage lined up for the Aer Lingus team, while PJ Nolan – who would go on to become president of Cycling Ireland, lined out for his local Navan Road Club.
All three of these went clear in an early move alongside Roche and local rider Paul Nolan of the St Patrick’s club in Stamullen (this Nolan would go on to become Paul Kimmage’s brother-in-law).
Unlike the rest of the lead quintet, Roche hadn’t raced on the course before and it took him a while to get to grips with the tough circuit, which had to be covered 10 times.
While Roche lost traction and time to the lead quartet on the muddiest part of the course in the early laps, he always fought his way back to the front and found himself in second place by the end of the third lap, when gear trouble forced Paul Kimmage to change bikes, Paul Nolan lost contact, and a puncture lost PJ Nolan his place at the front.
It took another lap for Roche to catch and overtake leader Raphael Kimmage. As Roche pulled clear in the finale of the title race, Kimmage suffered an untimely puncture behind him and, forced to run the last half-lap to the line, was overtaken by PJ Nolan, who took silver on the day.
As Roche took the title by over three minutes, Raphael Kimmage took bronze ahead of brother Paul, while Paul Nolan took fifth and Kimmage’s Aer Lingus club took the team title.
Just over two months later, in February 1980, Roche moved to France to race with top amateur club ACBB.
After a successful stint in the amateur ranks saw him win the Paris-Roubaix and Paris-Reims classics, among other prestigious races, he turned professional the following year with the Peugeot team.
Six years after that he won the Giro d’Italia, Tour de France and professional world road race championships in the same season and his name was forever etched into the annals of cycling history.
1979 NATIONAL CYCLO-CROSS CHAMPIONSHIPS RESULTS
1. S Roche (Orwell Wheelers),
2. PJ Nolan (Navan),
3. R Kimmage (Aer Lingus),
4. P Kimmage (Aer Lingus),
5. P Nolan (St Patrick’s),
6. A Byrne (Gardaí),
7. S Kennedy (AIF),
8. K Reilly (St Patrick’s),
9. J Murphy (Cuchulainn),
10. I Henry (North Down).
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