The Tour de France is full of stories. Every day, we highlight a historical moment that can be linked to the upcoming stage. This time, stage 19: the frightening images of Tour winner Stephen Roche on La Plagne.
It is a remarkable image after the finish of the 21st Tour stage in 1987: Roche lies on the ground with an oxygen mask on, surrounded by a medical team, officers, journalists and photographers. The Irishman has gone so deep on the final climb to La Plagne that he needs oxygen.
For ten minutes, Roche can only communicate with the medical team by blinking his eyes. “The doctor asked me to move my legs, but I couldn’t,” he says later. “I couldn’t move anything. He put a survival blanket around me and I couldn’t move my arms either. The doctor was really scared. I was alert, but couldn’t talk.”
Prior to the stage, Roche is just under half a minute behind yellow jersey wearer Pedro Delgado in the standings. The Spaniard is the better climber and rides away from his competitor on La Plagne. But the Irishman doesn’t give up and tries to stay as close to Delgado as possible.
“I couldn’t see him and couldn’t hear him because of the crowd, but I knew I was going fast. Hoping to be within thirty seconds,” Roche recalls. “Only when I came to the last corner, with my tongue on my knees, did I see the car and therefore Delgado. I went all out towards the finish.”
Roche finishes just four seconds after Delgado and immediately goes to the ground. After ten minutes he is taken away by ambulance. His first words to reporters are legendary: “Everything is okay, but no women tonight.” A few days later, Roche takes the yellow jersey from Delgado after a time trial, after which he wins his only Tour.
