Conversation so far:
How did Stephen Roche start Stephen Roche's professional career?
Roche scored his first professional victory by beating Bernard Hinault in the Tour of Corsica.
Did he have any other major victories?
he won Paris-Nice (where he became the first, and still the only, new pro to win Paris-Nice) despite illness.
What kind of illness did he have?
CANNOTANSWER.
Are there any other interesting aspects about this article?
In 1982 his best performance was second in the Amstel Gold Race behind Jan Raas.

Question: did he win any awards during his professional career?
Self-contained rewrite: did stephen roche win any awards during his professional career?