Former rider (41) attacked on the streets of Barcelona: “The biggest fright of my life”

It was an attempted robbery as the 41-year-old Irishman left a restaurant. Three men jumped him — the son of former Tour de France winner Stephen Roche — in an effort to steal his watch. On Instagram, Roche described it as “the biggest fright of my life”.

“I’ve just been attacked and beaten up by three men as I left a restaurant in the centre of Barcelona. They tried to steal my watch. Thanks to my girlfriend and two security guards from the shop further down the street, I not only managed to keep my watch, but they also stopped the attackers from continuing to beat me,” wrote the Irishman.

According to Roche, the attack may have been planned in advance. “It’s crazy that someone in the restaurant must have alerted the gang to wait for me outside. I’d read about it in the news, but it’s a very different thing to experience it yourself,” he explained.

And help? Roche said it didn’t really come. “What really shocked me was that for more than five minutes, people just stood watching while I lay on the ground and my girlfriend screamed for help — until, eventually, the two security guards came outside and chased the thieves away.”

Fortunately, Roche did not suffer serious injuries. “Luckily I ‘only’ have a few cuts on my face and a bruise on my elbow. Marta (his girlfriend, ed.) took a hit to the back of her head when she tried to protect my head. I still can’t believe what happened. Be careful, everyone who goes out.”

A day later, the Irish former professional thanked everyone for the messages of support he received.