For most of the 20th century, professional cycling was dominated by riders from the continental strongholds of France, Italy, Belgium and Spain, but in the 1980s, two young men from Ireland rose from obscure beginnings to arrive at the very top of the sport: Sean Kelly and Stephen Roche

Today, they remain indelibly inscribed in the annals of cycling with legacies that include victories at the Giro d Italia, Tour de France and World Championships. But beyond the bike lies an untold story of adjusting to the mores of the professional peloton, of influences shared and of friendships made and broken

Based on new and exclusive interviews with Kelly, Roche and other key players from the time, including their teammates, rivals and confidants, The Ascent is the dramatic story of how a generation of Irish riders scaled heights never reached before or since.