By Shane Stokes
The 1987 world championship winner Stephen Roche has praised the current crop of Irish riders, and said they are capable of a very strong showing in the elite men's road race on Sunday.
Roche won the worlds in Villach, Austria, during his standout 1987 season. He also took the Giro d’Italia and Tour de France in the same year.
Some 37 years later, Ireland will line out at the worlds in Switzerland and even if the riders are not quite at the same level as Roche and Sean Kelly all this years ago, he believes a strong showing is possible from Eddie Dunbar, Ben Healy and others.
“Eddie did brilliant in the Vuelta,” Roche told stickybottle in recent days. “Very, very well done tactically, and, of course, having the legs as well.
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“But Eddie’s always been a brilliant rider. He just hasn’t had luck his way, you know. And when luck does go his way, he puts in the good rides. Putting the rides in at that level, it was brilliant.”
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He sees Dunbar’s performance as part of a rising tide in Irish cycling.
“I think we’re extremely lucky at the moment to have so many young lads coming along there, like Archie Ryan, Darren Rafferty, Ben Healy… all these guys are all there now, which is incredible for a nation like ourselves.
“I hope the fruit of what the federation is doing at the moment is doing something good. I think these guys are World Tour level, and I think they can definitely do a good ride this weekend.”
Sunday’s road race will take place on one of the toughest courses in recent years. That should suit the likes of Dunbar, Healy and Ryan, with Rás Tailteann runner up Conn McDunphy also capable of playing an important role.
Roche bases his expectations off what he has seen from the riders. “In the Classics, they are up there. Eddie Dunbar is doing extremely well, and he rode a fabulous Tour of Spain.
“Riding a long Tour like that is normally good for you, for riding a one day race. And I think also the terrain is good for Ben Healy. So I’m looking forward to a good Irish performance at the weekend.”
