A dull and tedious book that fails to capture the cultural and historical richness of the Tour de France. It has its better parts but mostly one is left treading water in a sea of chronologically ordered facts with little context. The attempts to place the race in French culture and history are faint and awkwardly disconnected. The book is strewn with feeble attempts to add color, but these "side streets" generally prove to be irrelevant and pointless detours. For instance, when the author attempts to frame the race route through southern France he merely gives a laundry list of all the 20th century (English) literary greats that have made there home there. Really? What does this have to do with The Tour passing through Provence? What about the multitude of people than line the route and the countless individuals and towns that play a roll in the tour? And what about the roads, the weather, the terrain, the machines? Surely the author has spent little time on a bike for this narrative is devoid of the most basic experiences of cycling and seems borne more out of cold newspaper research than a passion for the sport.

A dull and tedious book that fails to capture the cultural and historical richness of the Tour de France. It has its better parts but mostly one is left treading water in a sea of chronologically ordered facts with little context. The attempts to place the race in French culture and history are faint and awkwardly disconnected. The book is strewn with feeble attempts to add color, but these "side streets" generally prove to be irrelevant and pointless detours. For instance, when the author attempts to frame the race route through southern France he merely gives a laundry list of all the 20th century (English) literary greats that have made there home there. Really? What does this have to do with The Tour passing through Provence? What about the multitude of people than line the route and the countless individuals and towns that play a roll in the tour? And what about the roads, the weather, the terrain, the machines? Surely the author has spent little time on a bike for this narrative is devoid of the most basic experiences of cycling and seems borne more out of cold newspaper research than a passion for the sport. ( )

I really enjoyed reading this. Very comprehensive and full of original angles on which to comment on the Tour's place in the sporting and social history of France in particular and Europe in general. Renewed my appreciation of the Tour's greatest legends such as Merckx, Coppi, Ocana, and Poulidor. I have an especially new-found reverence for the great Gino Bartoli. Vive le Tour! ( )

This funny, well-written history of the Tour puts its characters - the tyrannical father of the Tour, Henri Desgrange and earlier riders such as Poulidor, Coppi, Anquetil - front and center. I could not put it down. It's an easy read and a very good guide to the Tour, whether or not you are new to cycling. ( )

Aspects of this book equally delight and infuriate. For example the reason why the average speed of the riders has increased from 16 mph in 1903 to a dizzy 25 mph in 1999 is due to improved: bicycles, roads, artinary and nutrition of the riders! The liberal scattering of French terms go right over my head! I'm not sure that I have arrived at a greater understanding of the French as people, but after reading this my social history of the country has improved no end.

Apparently the reason why riders shave their legs has noting to do with anything other than if they have a fall, then the wound is easier to clean and apply a dressing to!

Delights? Well the evolution of the race under the directorship and team tactics of the riders is fascinating. One man had a vision and sought to make it reality though how the tour evolved is explained referring to other sports from other countries to exemplify. French may fly over your head - then be prepared for sport and cultural references to go over your head - not to mention a little modern French Philosophy!

Infuriate? A name index only. Limited glossary; no map, so an atlas, French dictionary will make desirable companions to Le Tour

Skilled writing and frequent cultural detours, makes this suitable for readers of all levels of race knowledge.