Nicolas Roche, the former Irish professional road bicycle racer has been appointed as the manager of the Irish National Team, these are very exciting times as he will also be serving as the director of the Cycling Ireland senior road program of 2022. Roche will be managing the professional teams in the World Championships in Wollongong and European Championship in Munich, we can’t wait to see how the Irish team performs under Roche’s leadership.
Cycling Ireland has close ties with the Irish racer and champion, it was a no-brainer as they appointed him the director of the senior road program.
Roche made the following official statement regarding his new job,
Having recently retired from professional cycling I am delighted to be asked by Cycling Ireland to become part of the organization in this manner.
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Roche has had a very ambitious and staggering career, he recently finished his career and three seasons with Team DSM this last winter. He is a four times Olympian, completed more than seventeen different world championships, his achievements are skills are certainly sky-high. Nicolas Roche also served as the captain of the young rider’s team, this was during his last Tour De France in 2020.
Roche stated,
I am very taken by the ambition and vision for cycling in Ireland and I really look forward to working with athletes and staff in preparation for upcoming international events. I benefited from support and guidance throughout my career, and I am looking forward to giving back to junior and U23 riders and hopefully helping to develop a pipeline of Irish talent.
Apart from the world of sports, Roche has other interests and hobbies too, the man isn’t just talented in the cycling industry. He is currently a contestant in Dancing With The Stars (Irish Edition) and also the co-owner of a prestigious bike shop in Cork. It is always recommended to diversify your interests to grow and Roche certainly is a multi-talented guy. The team would be getting a celebrity and an industry veteran as their new mentor.
Liam Collins, the president of Cycling Ireland stated,
This is a very significant move for Cycling Ireland and will help to ensure world-class preparation for upcoming major events including the European and World Championship.
We are delighted that Nicolas Roche shares our ambition and vision and recognizes the potential we have. We very much look forward to working with him and developing the road program as we target Paris 2024.
The future is looking very bright for both Nicolas Roche and the Irish National Team, the level of competition will certainly increase. We are more than excited to see where Roche takes the team and how big of an impact will his leadership be.
Featured Image Via Instagram/roche_nicholas
