The 2001 Tour de France LANCE X3

Rating:
Summary: A disappointment
Review: Velo Press during the Tour de France runs an on-line ticker for each stage, which is quite good for those who do not have access to live television coverage. This book consists mostly of snippets of that on-line ticker and gives a very fragmented feel to the reader. After a while it grows tiresome to read of Mr. Noname making a break or covering a break. There is just a whole lot more to the Tour than an endless recitation of obscure names as they jockey for position throughout a six hour stage. A far more interesting angle would be to explain how so-called domestiques do so well in so many of the stages. What are differences between them and the favorites?

I would have expected an insiders book on the Tour de France to supply the reader with far more technical information as well as explanations of the rigors, demands and behaviors affecting the participants. What are typical meals? How can so many calories be consumed without causing complications? How is hydration maintained? How can a rider survive over 2,000 miles on a bike in three weeks? What special measures are taken. How does a rider not feel good on a ride yet continue at a level that would amaze even a good amateur cyclist? What does it mean to "have good legs"? What are the riding styles - in saddle or out? What gearing is used? What manufacturers equipment is used? There was a brief section on time-trial bikes in the book. How can a cyclist scream down mountain stages at 60-70 mph? Most good cyclists would not survive even one such descent.

Few books are written on professional bicycling racing, but the Tour de France does pique general interest. Here is a chance to explain the real world of cycling: its difficulties, complications, and requirements. Put the race coverage in the context of a broader view. Did the winners somehow cope with all of that better or is there another explanation? This book seems to have been written exclusively for the small world of elite cyclists who know all about professional cycling if not the actual participants. If that is the objective, label the next book "For elite cyclists only."