Kelly still has no room for passengers

There’s a cracking Phil Liggett line from the 1989 World Championships in France when the ITV anchor turns to his American counterpart Brian Malessa and said: “Brian, I think Sean Kelly told Fignon in broad Irish exactly what he thought of that idea,” after Fignon gestured for the Irishman to go to the front of the chase group to catch leader Steve Bauer.

In many ways, the exchange sums up the Carrick-on-Suir legend. His messages aren’t cryptic and his directives are about as subtle as a baseball bat to the stomach.

It’s 20 years since he was king of the peloton but he still speaks passionately about having “deep hunger” to succeed.