Twenty one years after winning the Tour de France, Stephen Roche will ride with full support and a following of amateur riders onto the Champs Elysees this Saturday 28th June. Taking part in the three day London-Paris Cycle Tour, Roche will arrive with Olympic gold rowing medallist and now Tri247 columnist, James Cracknell, top professional rider Emma Davis Jones and 250 pairs of tired legs belonging to business executives, former champions, club and fitness riders.

The London-Paris Cycle Tour is unique. It offers amateur cyclists the opportunity to ride with legendary figures such as Roche, in professional cycling conditions, with rolling road closures, full mechanical support and group formations. Such is the appeal that city financiers, lawyers and executives have signed up in significant numbers to take on the 600km three day tour.

Roche won the Tour de France in 1987. He also won the Giro d’Italia and the World Championships in the same year, becoming only the cyclist to have completed the triple crown of victories. Roche will ride in group one, the fastest group, during London-Paris. However, his preparation after fifteen years of retirement will have been similar to the amateur riders, who will no doubt be keen to take his scalp on the daily finish lines.

At the pre race dinner Roche said, "I'm really looking forward to it, but what's more important for me right now is to have fun and enjoy the whole thing!" But surely there must still be a competitive instinct him? "When I'm at home riding with the guys - Roche lives in Nice, France - I just like to sit in and wait for a good moment to put the hammer down, but that only happens on the days when I know I've got the legs for it, when I get back from a ride like that the guys all say, "you're riding really strong at the moment", but really is just about being smart and knowing when the right time is to attack!"

Olympian, James Cracknell, who has embraced endurance events since retiring from rowing, will line up alongside Roche, as they both make their first appearance on the London-Paris Cycle Tour. For a man who plans to ride a sub-two hour standard distance triathlon this year, he'll surely be good company for the former Tour de France winner.

Other triathletes taking part are: the current COR-FS Sprint Jersey Holder, ex GB triathlete Anthony Shippard, (rumour has it this year he's going for the yellow jersey) Alan Hancock and Jason Burkinshaw. In the women's event; former triathlete and now successful road cyclist, Elaine Sargeant will be riding in group one and will be a strong favorite to take the yellow jersey, although pro cyclist Emma Davis Jones will no doubt put up a good fight!

The London-Paris Cycle Tour leaves Hampton Court Palace on June 26th and after running through Kent to Dover will swing through the north of France to Amiens and finally down towards Paris, finishing at the iconic Eifel Tower this Saturday 28th June.

James Cracknell will be bringing us a full report on his race as soon as he's caught his breath. For more information about the event go to: www.londres-paris.com