Stephen Roche has been inducted into the Giro d’Italia’s hall of fame ahead of the 2014 Grand Partenza, which rolls out of Belfast on Friday May 9 for the first of three stages that will take the race across the border into Ireland.
The Irishman won the race in 1987 – a year in which he also went on to claim the Triple Crown by winning the Tour de France and world championships – and becomes the third member of the hall of fame.
Roche was welcomed into an exclusive club which also includes five-time Giro champion Eddy Merckx (1968, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1974) and three-time winner Felice Gimondi (1967, 1969, 1976) at a ceremony at the Causeway Hotel in Northern Ireland, where the 54-year-old was presented with a replica of the Giro d’Italia trophy.
Speaking in front of guests of the Giro d’Italia, including Northern Ireland’s enterprise minister, Arlene Foster, and the world’s cycling press, Roche recalled his memories as a young rider in Ireland, his early years as a pro, which included Paris-Nice victory in his debut season with Peugeot-Shell-Michelin in 1981, and his rivalry with defending champion and team-mate Roberto Visentini at the 1987 Giro.
“I am very honoured by this award because the Giro d’Italia always has a special place in my heart,” said Roche. “The 1987 Giro was a big victory and it opened up that year’s streak of magic.”
Davide Cassani was also at the ceremony and the Italian, who was Roche’s team-mate during that 1987 triumph and is now Italy’s national coach, added: “As most of you know, I rode with Stephen Roche and I think he was one of the smarter riders I have ever known, very capable of managing his own efforts.
“I learned a lot from Stephen when he was my captain in the Carrera team. I believe that his entry into the Hall of Fame of the Giro d’Italia is a fully deserved recognition.”
Belfast and Dublin will host the 2014 Giro d’Italia Grande Partenza on May 9-11, the first time the start of the race has been held away from mainland Europe.
Belfast will host the first stage, a 21.7km team time trial, while the second stage will take in a 218km route from the city to the Causeway Coast and back to the Northern Ireland capital. The 187km third stage will start in Armagh before crossing the border and finishing in Dublin.
