Overview
The Tour de France. It's probably the world's greatest and certainly toughest professional sporting event. There is much more to the Tour than the daily stage victories and dope charges. This book takes a close look behind the scenes of the Tour and brings up many fascinating stories from the race's 100-year history, as well as the events that preceded the Tour itself. The Unknown Tour de France makes fascinating reading for everyone interested in bicycle racing and professional sports in general. You'll hear about the great champions of the early days, and some of later years, who molded the public image of the Tour the way it has become known. You'll read about the beginnings of road racing and the men who started and promoted this great venture. Find out about the 'foreign legion', the early English-speaking riders, and the way some of them later placed their mark on the Tour. This edition replaces the previous edition ISBN 97818924266, which is no longer available.
Full Product Details
Author: Les Woodland
Publisher: Van Der Plas Publications,U.S.
Imprint: Van Der Plas Publications,U.S.
Edition: Revised and expanded 2nd ed
Dimensions:
Width: 21.60cm
, Height: 2.30cm
, Length: 28.00cm
Weight: 0.975kg
ISBN: 9781892495631
ISBN 10: 1892495635
Pages: 152
Publication Date: 01 June 2009
Audience:
General/trade
,
General
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: No Longer Our Product
Availability: In Print
This item will be ordered in for you from one of our suppliers. Upon receipt, we will promptly dispatch it out to you. For in store availability, please contact us.
Reviews
Lance Armstrong captured the imagination of people around the globe by winning the Tour de France in 1999. Armstrong's strength of human spirit is precisely why millions of fans watch the race each July. Considering that the riders cover 2000 miles in 21 days, traveling through all kinds of terrain and weather, the Tour is arguably the toughest, most demanding bicycle road race in the world. In The Unknown Tour de France, veteran cycling reporter Woodland describes the event from a behind-the-scenes perspective. Woodland's book is a credible history, making good use of anecdote to detail how the Tour has changed since 1903. Moreover, the author chronicles the many colorful people involved and the drug scandals that continue to tarnish the competition. -- Larry R. Little Penticton P.L., BC, Library Journal
""Lance Armstrong captured the imagination of people around the globe by winning the Tour de France in 1999. Armstrong's strength of human spirit is precisely why millions of fans watch the race each July. Considering that the riders cover 2000 miles in 21 days, traveling through all kinds of terrain and weather, the Tour is arguably the toughest, most demanding bicycle road race in the world. In The Unknown Tour de France, veteran cycling reporter Woodland describes the event from a behind-the-scenes perspective. Woodland's book is a credible history, making good use of anecdote to detail how the Tour has changed since 1903. Moreover, the author chronicles the many colorful people involved and the drug scandals that continue to tarnish the competition."" -- Larry R. Little Penticton P.L., BC, Library Journal
Author Information
Les Woodland is a cycling writer and journalist who has followed the professional racing scene for 30 years. His previous books include The Unknown Tour de France, which was also published by Van der Plas Publications. He lives alternately in East Anglia, Ingland, and near Toulouse in France.
