Stephen Roche on his way to winning the 1987 Giro d'Italia; he says he remains a very proud Irishman and can't wait for the Giro to visit Irish shores next May.
Ireland’s only ever winner of the Giro d’Italia, Stephen Roche has said the race’s start in Ireland next year underlines the country’s standing place in world cycling.
Speaking from Milan at the race’s official route announcement this afternoon, the winner of the race in 1987 said Ireland deserves to host the Grand Partenza.
“The Giro d’Italia is only second to the Tour de France in terms of prestige and is further proof of Ireland’s status in the world of cycling,” he said.
“It’s been a while since we had the likes of the Nissan Classic in the late 80s, with some of the best riders in the world racing here and to have a race like the Giro start in Ireland is evidence of how seriously we are taken now."
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“Dan (Martin) and Nico (Roche) are two of the most highly-respected professionals in the peloton, and so were myself and Sean (Kelly). But you have the likes of Philip Deignan coming through now and he’ll hopefully be there next year as well with Team Sky.”
The three-week stage-race commences in Belfast on Friday, May 9th, with a 21.7km team time trial starting at the Titanic Belfast museum before the riders tackle a 218km road stage starting and finishing in Belfast on Saturday and winding up the Antrim coast to the Giant’s Causeway, before a 187km haul on day three from Armagh to Dublin.
Roche said it will be a proud moment for him, Nicolas and the rest of the family - as well as cycling people all over Ireland - to have the Giro raced on Irish roads.
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“There is still a lot to play out yet in terms of what Irish riders will be in the race but I know from talking to Nico he would dearly love to be there."
“I speak with him a lot and today he was telling me a journalist asked him where he’s from; the journalist was asking him is he Irish or French and where he was from and without a second of thought Nico said, 'Dundrum'."
“Even though I don’t live in Ireland and neither does Nico, we are both Dubliners and proud of it. And next year will be a very proud moment for every Irish cycling fan when the peloton comes to these shores. And I know if Nico is there at the start-line in Belfast, he’ll be going all out to win, as will Dan and whoever else."
“It’s a very nice route and very balanced. You need to be consistent every day and keep your eyes open, because there could be echelons in the first week,” said Roche
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