Dimensions
154 x 233 x 18mm
The early years of the Tour de France were wobbly, to say the least. In 1904, the race's second year, the first four cyclists were disqualified for jumping on trains to shorten the event. So rampant was the cheating and skulduggery that Henri Desgrange, the race's founder, declared it 'dead' before it had even begun.
Eighty-nine editions later, the Tour is celebrating its centenary in July 2003 (the race was suspended during the world wars). It has become one of the world's greatest sporting spectacles, bringing 20 million people to the roadsides of Europe to watch extraordinary feats of courage and endurance. In the words of Lance Armstrong: "If you don't like pain, then don't ride."
In this book Rupert Guinness provides a compelling history of the Tour, paying special attention to the Australian cyclists who, once scorned for their old-fashioned bikes and lack of experience, are now a force to be reckoned with on the European cycling circuit. So much so, in fact, that Victorian Cadel Evans has been touted as a favourite to win this year's Tour.
From the early days when Don Kirkham and Snowy Munro rode the Tour in 1914 through the darkest nights on bikes without lights or gears, to Phil Anderson's remarkable run in the yellow jersey in 1981, to the drug scandal that rocked Neil Stephens' 1998 Tour, to Robbie McEwen's spectacular win of the green jersey in 2002, the book is packed with the drama, passion and adrenalin that make the Tour so addictive.
When July comes around and the world is glued to SBS's live Tour coverage, this will be an indispensable guide to the history, the personalities and the behind-the-scenes action of previous Tours. Whether you're into cycling or never put your derriere on a saddle, this book will enthrall you with its stories of gut-wrenching courage and single-minded endurance.
