Born to Ride: The Autobiography of Stephen Roche

by Stephen Roche

Overview

In 1987, Irish cycling legend Stephen Roche had an extraordinary year – the year to end all years.

June 1987: Winner of the Giro d’Italia
July 1987: Secured the yellow jersey at the Tour De France
September 1987: Victory at the World Cycling Championships in Austria

By winning the Giro d'Italia, Tour de France and world championships in the same season, Stephen Roche defied all odds to win cycling’s ‘triple crown’.Born to Ride, his first full autobiography, takes this extraordinary year as the starting point to explore the rest of his life. He doesn't hold back as he examines the many ups and downs of his time on and off the bike, scrutinising victories, defeats, rivals, serious injury, doping allegations and agonising family breakdown. Beneath the charm and rare natural talent, Roche finally reveals himself as a smiling assassin - a master strategist who lives to attack.

‘One of the most riveting sporting biographies I've read’ Herald

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781448129669
Publisher:	Random House
Publication date:	06/07/2012
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	304
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Stephen Roche was born in Dundrum, Dublin, Ireland. As a road racing cyclist, over the course of 13 years, he recorded 58 professional career wins, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia and the World Road Racing Championship, all of which he won in 1987. Since retiring Stephen has set up and built Stephen Roche Cycling Holidays and Training Camps, based in Majorca and worked as a commentator for Eurosport. Born to Ride is his first full autobiography.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations ix

Prologue: Austria: 6 September 1987 1

1 From Pincushions to Peugeot 10

2 'The Only Bike Rider Who Made Me Shit My Pants' 29

3 Mincemeat, Mouse Tails and Mr Motivator 47

4 'What Are You Doing? You've Got to Go On' 59

5 'Roche Va a Casa' 79

6 Ten Tour Contenders, One Yellow Jersey 95

7 Wrong Time for a Raincoat 109

8 The Reluctant Race Leader 118

9 'Blink If You Can Hear Me, Stephen' 128

10 'Welcome Home, Our Hero' 141

11 More Nightmare Than Dream Team 154

12 'What Do You Mean My Teammates Have Gone?' 168

13 Completing the Circle 186

14 'Being This Driven Can Be a Problem' 201

15 The Pleasure and Pain of Parenthood 229

16 No Backing Off 248

Index 259

Acknowledgements 271

Editorial Reviews

"Fascinating…a compelling read"

EBOOK COMMENTARY