Tour de France/Tour de Force Updated and Revised 100-Year Anniversary Edition - Softcover

James Startt; Greg LeMond; Samuel Abt

3.67

6 ratings by Goodreads

9780811839068: Tour de France/Tour de Force Updated and Revised 100-Year Anniversary Edition

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0811839060 ISBN 13: 9780811839068

Publisher: Chronicle Books, 2003

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To celebrate the 100th Tour de France anniversary in 2003, weve fully updated and reissued Tour de France/Tour de Force in paperback. Arranged chronologically and illustrated with hundreds of photographs dating back to the first race in 1903, Tour de France/Tour de Force offers a one-of-a-kind look at the Tours history. Tour insider James Startt shares stories of ingenuity (when Francois Fabers chain broke in the last kilometer of the 1909 Tour, he simply ran his bike across the finish line), tragedy (Tom Simpson collapsing and dying on the climb up Mont Ventoux in 1967), and triumph (Lance Armstrongs first of four consecutive victories after his battle with cancervictories that created a huge upsurge of interest in the sport). With an introduction by three-time Tour winner Greg LeMond, Tour de France/Tour de Force is the perfect way for fans everywhere to revel in the greatest bike race on earth.

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Review:

When the Tour de France was first held, it was only six stages long. Each of those stages, however, was a grueling ultramarathon averaging 400 kilometers for a total Tour length of 2,400 kilometers. The largest margin of victory in the history of the Tour--2 hours, 48 minutes--comes from this race. From 1903 to 1999, Tour de France/Tour de Force covers the history of the world's greatest cycling race in words and pictures. All the great riders are profiled: Lucien Petit-Breton, "King" Rene Vietto (who never won), Eddy "the Cannibal" Merckx, Bernard "the Badger" Hinault, Greg LeMond, Miguel Indurain, and of course, Lance Armstrong. Tour de Force also traces the event's evolution; for example, Pyrenees climbs were added in 1910, ensuring that versatile riders would come to dominate.

Author James Startt shares stories of ingenuity (when Francois Faber's chain broke in the last kilometer of the 1909 Tour, he simply ran his bike across the finish line), tragedy (Tom Simpson collapsing and dying on the climb up Mont Ventoux in 1967), and triumph (Lance Armstrong's 1999 Tour victory). Lavishly illustrated, Tour de France/Tour de Force is essential reading for cyclists and cycling fans alike. --M. Stein

About the Author:

James Startt left competitive cycling to pursue photography and journalism full-time. An American living in Paris, Startt has covered professional cycling events for a variety of magazines worldwide, published several books on cycling, and edits the official Tour de France Web site.

Samuel Abt associate editor of the International Herald Tribune based in Paris. He has written numerous books about the sport.

Greg Lemond a professional cyclist for 15 years from 1980 to 1994. Among other races, he won two world championships and three Tours de France. He currently lives in Minneapolis.

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