Roche 'thrilled' to make Tour debut

Nicolas Roche, son of 1987 champion Stephen, will today become the first Irishman to compete in the Tour de France since Mark Scanlon took part in the world-famous race five years ago.

A disappointing finish in the last month’s Dauphiné Libéré race cast doubts over a Tour de France starting berth for Roche junior that, until then, looked a certainty.