Tokyo 2020: Team Ireland profiles - Nicholas Roche (Cycling - road)

Roche’s father Stephen was also an Irish Olympian

Ireland’s Nicholas Roche in action at the 2016 Olympic Games. Photograph: Morgan Treacy/Inpho
Ireland’s Nicholas Roche in action at the 2016 Olympic Games. Photograph: Morgan Treacy/Inpho

Age: 37

Event: Road race/time trial

Pro Team: DSM

Selected for his fourth Games, after his debut in Beijing 2008, he's also one of several athletes in this year's team whose father also competed for Team Ireland in the Olympics (Stephen Roche was an Olympian in Moscow, 1980). One of the cycling's most experienced riders, Roche has completed 24 Grand Tours, most recently at the 2021 Giro d'Italia where he finished third on stage 18. He also has two stage victories at the Vuelta a Espana and 64 top-10 Grand Tour stage finishes, putting him third on the all-time list.

Ian O'Riordan

Ian O'Riordan

Ian O'Riordan is an Irish Times sports journalist writing on athletics