Description

On 6 September 1987, Stephen Roche touched greatness. Victory at the World Cycling Championship in Austria completed a near-unprecedented triple crown that included triumphs in the same year at the Tour de France and the Giro d Italia. In April, against all odds, he fought his own team and an angry, partisan Italian crowd who spat at him on his way to taking the Giro. In July a superhuman effort at La Plagne saw him secure the yellow jersey just before he blacked out. Roche s victory in Austria confirmed his virtuosity.

Born to Ride, Stephen Roche s first full autobiography, uses his best 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 agonizing family breakdown.