Stephen Roche - Family and Post-cycling Career

Family and Post-cycling Career

"While it is a very hard and sometimes very cruel profession, my love for the bike remains as strong now as it was in the days when I first discovered it. I am convinced that long after I have stopped riding as a professional I will be riding my bicycle. I never want to abandon my bike. I see my grandfather, now in his seventies and riding around everywhere. To me that is beautiful. And the bike must always remain a part of my life."

Roche lives in Antibes on the Côte d'Azur. Roche remained involved in the sport by founding cycling camps in Majorca, by taking part in race organisations and working as a commentator on cycling events for Eurosport.

He has four children with his former wife Lydia; the couple divorced in 2004. One son, Nicolas Roche, is now a professional with AG2R, and is the 2009 Irish National Road Race Champion.

Stephen's brother Lawrence Roche was also a professional cyclist who completed his only Tour de France in 1991. They were team-mates on the Ton Ton Tapis team.

Roche's nephew Daniel Martin is also a professional cyclist and was the 2008 Irish National Road Race Champion.

Roche completed the 2008 ING New York Marathon in a time of 4:21:09.