The Roche Family and Irish Cycling

[gooner]

Stephen has some interesting things to say on his fall out with Neil Martin. He says Dan Martin only declared for Ireland because it "suited him."

http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/the-untold-cycling-rivalry-30197620.html

 

[Ferminal]

It's kinda true isn't it? Not that making good career choices should be frowned upon or anything... he should be applauded. I guess it may bother people who have an attachment to other people's passports.

 

[gooner]

It's kinda true isn't it? Not that making good career choices should be frowned upon or anything... he should be applauded. I guess it may bother people who have an attachment to other people's passports.

Not taking too much of an issue with what he said in that aspect and agree with what you're saying. Nowadays, he spends a lot more time in Ireland by the sound of things and he does great work for a good cause here with Temple Street Hospital. We'll still claim him as one of our own.

It's more the falling out with Neil. We knew a bit of it last year when Dan and the family were interviewed by Kimmage but I still didn't read too much into it until reading this now.

 

[RobbieCanuck]

Stephen has some interesting things to say on his fall out with Neil Martin. He says Dan Martin only declared for Ireland because it "suited him."

This is pretty common with dual citizen athletes. Owen Hargreaves raised in Canada would never have played in a World Cup of football if he had opted for Canada as opposed to England in 2006.

 

[Digger]

The nationality thing is an opinion thing. My own opinion is how Irish you feel yourself. Regardless of where you were brought up. I have always had issues with Dan and his reasons for declaring for Ireland.
However, and this is the crux of the Roche comments, he seems to be forgetting the decision Nicholas himself made a number of years ago in declaring for France for career reasons.

 

[manafana]

Stephen has some interesting things to say on his fall out with Neil Martin. He says Dan Martin only declared for Ireland because it "suited him."

http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/the-untold-cycling-rivalry-30197620.html

stephen roche is doing good job of turning anyone who still likes him against him. Not his place to comment. Dan may not have been born in Ireland but hes been more than proud in representing the irish flag in the cycling world

I am an example of it myself, I am born and raised in Ireland, but my parents are french. I would be proud and give me all representing either Dan probably feels same.

 

[Benotti69]

Stephen Roche, what a ****ing hypocrite. His son was born in France and rides for Ireland.

Roche really does have a 'Roche only' view of the world. After the Giro leaves Ireland hopefully we wont hear anything from Roche Snr for a long long time.

 

[AICA ribonucleotide]

I've always found Martin, a kid who grew up in the Irish ex pat community in Birmingham, to come across as more Irish than Roche, the little rich french kid with celeb parents.

 

[Benotti69]

Dan Martin trying to defuse the situation,

Dan Martin ‏@DanMartin86 Apr 19
Always amused at the irish press attempts to invent/create a family feud. Love my family @nicholasroche @stephenj_roche #pettyjournalism

 

[Benotti69]

From Moore's book étape

Roche: "If you accuse Chiappucci, you doubt all the achievements of cyclists and athletes in general."

and Nico finding climbing legs in today's Route du Sud

 

[Ferminal]

9. USA BOSWELL Ian SKY 01'22"
10. FRA BERARD Julien ALM 01'39"
11. AUS MCCARTHY Jay TCS 01'54"

Doesn't look like much of a day's racing... unless the boys are partying like it's 2012.

 

[Benotti69]

9. USA BOSWELL Ian SKY 01'22"
10. FRA BERARD Julien ALM 01'39"
11. AUS MCCARTHY Jay TCS 01'54"

Doesn't look like much of a day's racing... unless the boys are partying like it's 2012.

Why post 9th 10th and 11th?

He beat Piti.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Why post 9th 10th and 11th?

He beat Piti.

Here they are:

Roche dropped at least 5 kgs since the Giro.

 

[Benotti69]

Here they are:

Roche dropped at least 5 kgs since the Giro.

How quaint Valverde still wearing a yella wristband

 

[Cycle Chic]

**** the hypocrisy ‏@Digger_forum 14h

HE'S A SPRINTER who is now climbing, for the most part, with climbers who have doped.

 

[hrotha]

Look, if Digger wants to say something here, he can do it himself. He's a forumer too - you don't need to quote him like he's some sort of authority.

 

[Cycle Chic]

I think he is an authority and definitely a hero of mine

 

[Benotti69]

Re:

Look, if Digger wants to say something here, he can do it himself. He's a forumer too - you don't need to quote him like he's some sort of authority.

What is the problem with quoting from twitter?

Doesn't matter if they are a member or not.

Digger is not here as much nowadays, like JV..........

No way Roche rides on panyagua.

 

[hrotha]

Nothing wrong with quoting from elsewhere per se, but if you're going to quote a forumer who could easily post the same message here, at least make sure it adds something to the discussion.

 

[Cycle Chic]

Re:

Nothing wrong with quoting from elsewhere per se, but if you're going to quote a forumer who could easily post the same message here, at least make sure it adds something to the discussion.

So quoting a post is now pointless because the poster should have thought of re-posting it himself - wow !! maybe Digger isnt telepathic.

 

[noddy69]

Re:

**** the hypocrisy ‏@Digger_forum 14h

HE'S A SPRINTER who is now climbing, for the most part, with climbers who have doped.

Whats the context as if you read that on it's own it is more likely about Tom Doumolin

 

[Lyon]

Re:

**** the hypocrisy ‏@Digger_forum 14h

HE'S A SPRINTER who is now climbing, for the most part, with climbers who have doped.

Sprinters are the fastest at the end of races, I see no reason why, with a little effort and dedication, they can't be the fastest over the whole race as well. After all, the only difference between 1km and 300km is 299 times 1km. A couple extra hours of training everyday (with the SRM turned off) should do it.

 

[Frosty]

So when was Roche considered to be a sprinter? He was a fast finisher when younger but not an out-and-out sprinter. Since his 13th place in the 2008 Vuelta he has often finished high up in the GC of GTs, i don't see his 8th place the other day being out of keeping with the rest of his career? Are we talking from before he turned pro?

 

[42x16ss]

Re: Re:

**** the hypocrisy ‏@Digger_forum 14h

HE'S A SPRINTER who is now climbing, for the most part, with climbers who have doped.

Sprinters are the fastest at the end of races, I see no reason why, with a little effort and dedication, they can't be the fastest over the whole race as well. After all, the only difference between 1km and 300km is 299 times 1km. A couple extra hours of training everyday (with the SRM turned off) should do it.

Is this Roche or Dumoulin? Either way, neither has ever been a sprinter. Dumoulin was initially a TT'er and leadout who could punch over small hills and Roche was a puncheur at U23 level, who could hold on fairly well on longer climbs.

Neither has ever been considered a sprinter

 

[Archibald]

Re: Re:

**** the hypocrisy ‏@Digger_forum 14h

HE'S A SPRINTER who is now climbing, for the most part, with climbers who have doped.

Sprinters are the fastest at the end of races, I see no reason why, with a little effort and dedication, they can't be the fastest over the whole race as well. After all, the only difference between 1km and 300km is 299 times 1km. A couple extra hours of training everyday (with the SRM turned off) should do it.

Yep. There was a certain one day racer who transformed himself in a top level GT rider simply by being on his bike 6 hours a day...