Nicholas Roche is embarking on his fourth year as a professional, from his steady rise from being a stagiare, to wearing the yellow jersey at the Tour d l’Avenir, to finishing his first Grand Tour: he is progressing nicely towards the heights of his father’s career. PEZ was given the chance to ask some searching questions and Nicholas did not disappoint us. Famous father or not, he’s a good guy to listen too!
Quite often the son or daughter of a famous, successful person has to suffer under the pressure of having to live up to the mother or father's achievements; this was obvious with Axel Merckx. Nicholas Roche is the son of Stephen, he who won the Giro d’Italia, Tour de France, and World Championships in the same year, so Nicholas has a high bar to jump, but a nicer, more friendly, helpful, down to earth bike rider you couldn’t find, he has the Irish humor and the French love of food, it doesn’t come much better than that!
Nicholas Roche in Italy in his first Grand Tour: the Giro.
Nicholas was born in France and has dual nationality, which has caused him problems in the past and in the end he had to choose which he was: he now is an Irish rider, living in France, riding for a French team, with dual-nationality with a French mother and an Irish father, which is enough to confuse anyone!
After being a very successful junior and finishing his education at the prestigious Blackrock College in Dublin, he had the chance to be a stagiare with the Cofidis team at the end of 2004. A solid first full pro season saw him as the youngest rider on a ProTour team with Cofidis. 2006 saw him finish 10th in the Tour de l’Avenir, take a stage win and hold the yellow jersey for three days. 2007 saw him move on to Credit Agricole, more top results and finishing his first Grand Tour, the Giro d’Italia.
Indeed, Nicholas has a famous father: here's Stephen taking the World Championships in Villach, Austria.
The future looks very bright for the young Irish/French star and with his sense of humor he can always go on the stage, his answer to my first question gave me a good laugh, setting up for a very interesting and amusing interview.
PEZ: What difference did you see between Credit Agricole and Cofidis?
Nicholas Roche: The color of the jersey!
PEZ: How do you think being your father’s son has affected your cycling career, bad, good or nothing different from other riders of your age?
N.R: Well I think the fact that I was surrounded by cycling things when I was a kid, kinda led me in that direction, it was maybe more natural to think about cycling and probably a lot easier to get the idea that I wanted to try the bike. Then I was crazy enough to stay on the bike, I think there are always two sides: it hasn’t always been good and easy.
The difference between Cofidis and Credit Agricole? The jersey of course.
PEZ: Which rider has impressed you the most?
N.R: That’s not an easy question; I’m impressed in every race! But globally my idol, when I was a bit younger, was Stuart O’Grady.
PEZ: Do you feel Irish or French, or both?
N.R: 100% Irish but love living in France.
PEZ: Which race have you enjoyed (maybe enjoyed is the wrong word) the most and why?
N.R: I loved the Worlds in 2006: being away in that break during race was amazing, so many people cheering - it was fantastic! But also my stage win in the Tour de l’Avenir, crossing the line first just felt so good! And then putting that yellow jersey and having it for 3 days was also a great souvenir, and finally last year's Giro, even if I struggled in some stages, I love the atmosphere of a Grand Tour. You pick up little habits and things are good fun, the pressure is on all day for 20 days, and it’s a big relief when you arrive in Milan.
PEZ: What are your plans and hopes for your cycling future?
N.R: Like every kid I suppose to be world champion and win the Tour de France..that would be a nice story, but more realistically I would like to be good enough that I can be remembered for my results, and achievements, but also to secure a bit of my future in regarding to having been able to find something interesting after cycling...And if it can make me a bit wealthy?! Why not ha ha!
PEZ: What does the future hold for Nicholas Roche, life, love, and after pro cycling?
N.R: Don’t know, any suggestions!!? Hopefully the best I can get, I really enjoy been on the bike so I would like to ride for a good few more years and hopefully get a few wins, I’d be happy if I could aim for 10 wins in my Career, after that I’d love to have my own business. I love fashion, so why not have a nice clothing shop? My other interest is interior design, so maybe a nice furniture and interior shop! A kind and beautiful wife and 2 great kids! That would be perfect, what do you think!
PEZ: What are your interests when you are not cycling?
N.R: Fashion, cars, music, at the moment busy doing my apartment up, cinema, all the hi-tech stuff from phones to TV.
PEZ: What have been the highs and the lows of your career?
N.R: Well the highs, my victory in l’Avenir, the Irish time trial champs, and the low, a very bad saddle sore that made me not able to ride Tour of Ireland, I was hoping for so much out of that! It was a big thing for me.
PEZ: You finished the Giro in 2007, how did it compare to riding the Tour de L’Avenir in 2006?
N.R: The idea is the same but just much, much bigger.
PEZ: You must have been only three years old when your father won the Tour, have you watched the video? Impressive, no?
N.R: Yeah, I know it by heart; I know many videos in fact! Very impressive, there is a good video of him that the French TV, done with U2 in the background, great shots and great music.
PEZ: You were a stagiaire in 2004 with Cofidis, what was that like, scary?
N.R: Not really scary but had a lot of pressure, I wanted to do well and do something in that period of time, but there were also a lot of doubts on whether I was capable of riding with the pros.
PEZ: What is your favorite food?
N.R: Hard question! Probably the hardest or actually the easiest, I love food, and cooking, I love Asian (sushi, sweet and sour dishes) but also North African (couscous and tajin) but also traditional like entrecote or duck...
PEZ: Favorite drink?
N.R: Coca-Cola and cappuccino
PEZ: Favorite music?
N.R: Generally house music, but favorite is U2.
PEZ: Favorite TV program?
N.R: The Simpson’s.
PEZ: Favorite holiday destination?
N.R: Lately I’ve had no time for holidays, but I like coming back to Ireland for a start; but I have never been in the Caribbean, and would like to go next year to do a randonne across Finland with dogs and sleigh.
PEZ: Your best point?
N.R: Motivation.
PEZ: Your worst point?
N.R: Too stubborn some times.
PEZ: Favorite film?
N.R: Last Samurai and Lord of the Rings (all 3).
PEZ: Top historical and top cycling person?
N.R: Does Bono count?! I think he has achieved a fair bit in the third world, great man. In cycling I used to be a fan of Indurain and Rominger.
PEZ: Favorite pin-up?
N.R: Too many to write it down, love brunettes
PEZ: Do you look at the “Daily Distractions” on PEZ?
N.R: Not yet but will surly check it out….. Done! Good site, love the chicks part!
Well thanks very much to a smart and funny young professional for answering our questions and even if he doesn’t emulate his father's results, (which let's face not many riders will), he's going to be a great rider and more importantly a great guy... Thanks and good luck for next year from PEZ to Nicholas. Don’t forget to look for the brunette “Daily Distractions”!
Roadside St. 14 When you start each new Giro you understand you’re a year older. You feel a stranger to the village approach and for a moment ... More....
Professional cycling has, over the years, attracted only a few documentary film makers. A few, such as Jorgen Leth’s “A Sunday in Hell,” have even ... More....
I’m just digging out from a few days at the BMC training camp, and while I won’t be reporting on doing Jaeger-bombs and Redbulls with Cadel & George, ... More....
As the final Madison got underway the arena was packed to the rafters, all the talk of Six Days in crisis forgotten for now. The finale was ... More....
Six Day racing comes to Berlin for the 99th time on Thursday, 28th January, 2010 with the great tradition of winter track racing in Germany in a ... More....
American Classic spent the last couple of years reworking their line up and the 420 Aeros are the latest to leave the bench. Take a look at the new ... More....
A couple years in the making, Pez head up to see arguably the top custom builder on the planet. We hit Serotta's NY shop, take a peek at their ... More....
You’ve still got today and all of tomorrow to ‘git ‘er done! Your holiday shopping that is… and armed with the complete set of 4 gift guides ... More....
If the stocking's not full - somebody's not doing their job. Good thing we're here to help with a big ol' bag full of the kind of stuff we'd love to ... More....
Winter riding is almost upon us - except for you lucky Aussies - and that means less riding outdoors. But with an indoor trainer and a Netflix ... More....
Many ergogenic aids, both legal and illegal, have been touted as the magic bullet that will improve cycling performance. What about something that ... More....
Having goals is one of the important first steps in achieving your dreams. They can be small goals or they can be big goals, but without them you’ll ... More....
Is cycling your religion, or at least one of them? If so, you’re not alone. Many people define themselves as “spiritual,” even if they don’t practice ... More....
Post-Giro Roadside: I love Scotland; but there’s no Gazzetta in the morning, most of the coffee tastes like John Wayne brewed it beside the ... More....
Sunday July 20th 1969; that’s 40 years ago now but I remember it clearly as the day that I first became aware of professional bicycle racing – I was ... More....
Roadside Recap: As we make our merry way through the rounds of the PEZ Looks Back, Ed is up for his retrospective on the Tour that was. As the ... More....
Coming on four years ago, Saul Raisin was one of THE big things in US pro cycling. Top 40 in a hard Tour de Suisse and mountain king at the Tour de ... More....
The last time we spoke to Garmin's Steve Cozza was after the 2008 Paris - Tours; where he produced another solid performance from a consistent and ... More....
Just about to start his second season with Cervélo - thanks to strong Classic rides and his first Grand Tour finish, in the Giro - Englishman, Dan ... More....
In October, nine-time Tour de France rider Frankie Andreu announced that he would be Director Sportif of the Ohio-based KENDA Pro Cycling p/b ... More....
With so many (too many?) others looking back to best-of-2009 or decade highlights, why not look ahead? A new decade beckons, after all, so who better ... More....
We first talked with Lostende Bike Tours owner and avid cyclist Allan Reeves about his Pyrenees Cycling Challenge, from the Atlantic to the ... More....
So, riding in Texas is mostly flat, with only tumbleweeds and armadillos to avoid right? Well, not exactly. You see, Austin is situated in what’s ... More....
Roadside St. 14 When you start each new Giro you understand you’re a year older. You feel a stranger to the village approach and for a moment ... More....
Professional cycling has, over the years, attracted only a few documentary film makers. A few, such as Jorgen Leth’s “A Sunday in Hell,” have even ... More....
I’m just digging out from a few days at the BMC training camp, and while I won’t be reporting on doing Jaeger-bombs and Redbulls with Cadel & George, ... More....
Race report: Alejandro Valverde stayed upright to seal his Vuelta victory – the first Grand Tour win of his career. On such a short stage, ... More....
Race Report: Today David Millar won his 5th stage in all his Vuelta’s, he was given one of the swords that Toledo is famous for along with the ... More....
The loss of Franco Ballerini is not one that will be forgotten anytime soon. The sport's best are at a loss and two of the greatest riders of our ... More....
Updated! Hallelujah, they're racing in Qatar, and I just got back from celebrating with every other New Orleanian on Bourbon Street. There's ... More....
It was a dark Sunday morning in Italy when the news services announced that Franco Ballerini, ex-professional, former dual Paris-Roubaix winner and ... More....
The maracas shake, 'Cara mia, mine !' blasts from the PA. Bang! The little cannon fires and the hall fills with smoke. Yes, this is the right place, ... More....
When the K-Mart Classic of West Virginia stormed through the state in the mid-90s, it opened awareness as to just how great the bike riding is in ... More....
After riding the final 17 sectors of Paris-Roubaix yesterday, and typing to you with still swollen, sore, and blistered hands, I understand to my ... More....
![](javascript:showpic("http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/photos/tech/amclass/amc420alarge.jpg",900,698);)
![](javascript:showpic("http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/photos/tech/serotta/meilarge.jpg",2000,1244);)
