The former Giro winner Stephen Roche became only the third rider to be awarded a coveted place in the race's Hall of Fame in a ceremony at the Causeway Hotel, Co Antrim, today which also marked the start of the countdown to the race's Irish stages in May. Roche is seen here with Northern Ireland Tourism Minister Arlene Foster and Paolo Bellini of RCS, which owns the race.
By Gerard Cromwell
Co Antrim
Stephen Roche became only the third person to be inducted into the Giro d’Italia Hall of Fame today, joining the legendary names of Eddy Mercx and three time winner Felice Gimondi at a presentation at the scenic Giant’s Causeway in Co Antrim.
Roche was awarded with a replica of the new Giro winner’s trophy, with his version of the famous golden spiral cropped just after his name appeared on its curves for winning the Giro in 1987.
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And he admitted his delight with the process afterwards.
“We’re in Giant’s Causeway and being inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Giro today, you feel like a giant as well,” he said.
“It’s very flattering as well because I’m only the third guy in the Hall of Fame at the moment after Mercx and Gimondi, who are two big monuments to the sport. I’m really chuffed with it.”
Roche’s win in the 1987 Giro sparked an incredible run of victories which also saw him follow it up with wins at the Tour de France and the world road race championship that year and almost three decades later has inspired this year’s Grand Partenza in Belfast.
“Maybe if the Irish riders like myself Sean Kelly, Martin Earley, Paul Kimmage, Shay Elliott and those guys hadn’t done what we did... maybe the Tours wouldn’t have come here," he said of the Giro start in Belfast on May 9th and the Tour de France start here in 1998.
"I think the fact that Irish riders have done so well over the years has helped it a little bit. But what’s also made the Giro possible is the enthusiasm of the Northern Ireland Tourism Board to put together a deal and basically hijack the Grande Partenza from somewhere else.
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Trail Blazers: Left to right; Paul Kimmage (RMO), Stephen Roche (Carrera) and Martin Earley (Fagor), with what looks like a youthful Miguel Indurain just about visible on the far right. The Irish trio along with Sean Kelly established the legacy that has helped get the Giro to Ireland this year and before it the Tour de France in 1998.
"You have to be very brave to go in there and say ‘we want the start’. It’s a massive showcase. Big, big logistical problems go with it and it took a lot of courage from the Northern Ireland Tourism Board."
With towns and councils across Northern Ireland planning street events and festivals during the Giro’s stay, Roche says fans here are in for a treat.
“Irish cycling fans watch the Giro in May and the Tour de France in July and they envy those people at the side of the road with their camper vans and their cars. They say ‘I’d love to go, but it’s too expensive. It’s too far. You can’t just go for one day.'
"But here they are now with this big event on their doorstep. It’s great for the fans, for anybody involve in cycling in Ireland, that the Giro is coming to them. It can only encourage young kids to get into the sport whether that be through road racing, mountain biking, BMX or whatever.”
Speaking of young kids, Roche’s own ‘young kid’ Nicolas will be on the start line come May 9th, as will his nephew Dan Martin and hopefully, Letterkenny pro Philip Deignan, pending a recovery from a current broken collarbone. According to Roche senior, all three can win a stage.
“It’s great that we will have those guys on the start; Dan and Nicolas should definitely win a stage each,” he says.
“I think if Philip Deignan is there, while he might have to ride for his teammates, he can get in a good break some day and definitely win a stage.
"Philip’s got a broken collarbone at the moment but he’s got a lot of class and those three boys are each capable of winning a stage in the Giro. But a stage win doesn’t start when they say ‘go’.
"The start of winning a stage begins months before that when you start getting it into your head. It’s encouraging for me to see the lads recce the stages because that means they are already thinking they can do it and feel they can get something out of it.
"You recce the course and the whole thing grows and I think when you see the lads going out and doing recces of the course, they’re there because they feel they’re in with a chance. To me, that’s the beginning of a stage win.”
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