Synopses & Reviews
No champion has astonished the world quite like Lance Armstrong. A cancer survivor who went on to win the Tour de France an unprecedented seven times, he is an inspiration to millions. Yet few know the complete story of this brash, smart, and fiercely competitive Texan who battled to the top of his sport, overcame the most rampant case of testicular cancer doctors had seen, and then conquered cyclingandrsquo;s Holy Grail time after time. In Lance: The Making of the Worldandrsquo;s Greatest Champion, John Wilcockson draws on dozens of interviews with those who know him best to trace Armstrongandrsquo;s remarkable, yet controversial journey in vivid detail.
Family membersandmdash;including his adoptive father speaking publicly for the first timeandmdash;recall Lanceandrsquo;s humble origins in the backstreets of Dallas, the father he barely knew, his single momandrsquo;s struggle for survival, and her second marriage that brought a move to the suburbs and new opportunities. His childhood friends and early mentors remember how he moved on from Little League baseball and football to excel at swimming, running, and triathlon, while living the life of a teenager who loved fast cars and pretty girls. They also describe the circumstances that eventually led to his taking up cycling.
As Lanceandrsquo;s fierce ambition drove him from the dusty plains of Texas to the snowy peaks of Europe, he was both admired and derided. He intimidated his rivals, earned the respect of his teammates, and astounded everyone with his extraordinary deeds. But his achievements have consistently been dogged by allegations of doping and secrecy, and questions of how triumph on such a grand scale could even be possible.
So how did Lance become the supreme champion of his sport? He didnandrsquo;t do it alone. His compelling story is intertwined with the stories of those who helped shape his life and career, including his mother Linda, ex-wife Kristin, and one-time fiancandeacute;e Sheryl Crow, along with those of his mentors, coaches, and friends. Their voices, along with those who helped him expand his cancer foundation into a worldwide movement, are integral to his unique story. Lance also reveals details, many for the first time, of how Armstrongandrsquo;s legendary training, near-fatal bout with cancer, repeated doping allegations, and hostile European media all pushed him to reach the pinnacle of his sport and rightly claim the title of the worldandrsquo;s greatest champion.
Review
Kirkus Reviews, 6/1/09 andldquo;[A] detailedandhellip;biography of one of the worldandrsquo;s most inspiring athletesandhellip;Wilcockson is at his best describing this tortuous 2,200-mile event, which tests athletes to the breaking point, and he ably captures the world of European cyclingandmdash;the techniques, personalities and overwhelming passion.andrdquo;
Booklist, 5/15/09
andldquo;Cycling fans will enjoy the summaries of Armstrongandrsquo;s racing triumphs, and there are lots of fascinating insider anecdotes to flesh out the story line. This subject-friendly biography of one of the worldandrsquo;s most famous sports luminaries is sure to get lots of media hype and be in considerable demand.andrdquo;
Library Journal
andldquo;This book offers stories and insights that will make it a popular choice for those who follow Armstrong and/or his sport.andrdquo;
PW.com
andldquo;Wilcockson has tracked down an array of impressive sourcesandhellip;Armstrong has led an extraordinary life so far...andrdquo;
The Independent (UK), 7/19/09
andldquo;[A] fascinating, very well put-together portrait full of insights into its subject's personalityandhellip;The adult dramas andndash; the rise to cycling prominence and his domination of the Tour, the cancer and the setting up of his cancer foundation, his marriage, fatherhood, divorce, and his relationship with Sheryl Crow andndash; are better known, but in Wilcockson's hands they remain rich in the re-telling, and much is added to our understanding of a tumultuous life.andrdquo;
The Guardian (UK), 7/19/09
andldquo;[S]ceptics might be less surprised to witness Armstrong's renaissance if they had read John Wilcockson's new biography.andrdquo;
The Texas Observer, 7/10/09
andldquo;Wilcockson is able to offer the inside dope (pun intended) on the champandrsquo;s training techniques, his rise through the ranks and his triumph over family strife and cancer to emerge as one of the planetandrsquo;s best-known athletesandhellip;Wilcockson certainly knows the business of bike racing, and he delivers a fine primer.andrdquo;
The Daily Beast
andldquo;Lance is a compelling story of survival and, above all else, endurance.andrdquo;
The New York Times, 7/23/09
andldquo;Another Armstrong book?...Is there anything left to say or explain? Yes there is and Wilcockson says it and explains it meticulously, even controversiallyandhellip;Confident, confrontational, motivated by anger and a fear of failure andmdash; these well-known Armstrong traits are explored at length by Wilcockson in a series of interviews with figures in the riderandrsquo;s past, including his adopted father, his early mentor, relatives and boyhood friends and the doctor who first diagnosed the testicular cancer that had spread to the riderandrsquo;s brain, lungs and stomach. Lance lets them all speak as Wilcockson blends their stories into a skillful portrait to detail the bookandrsquo;s subtitle, The Making of the Worldandrsquo;s Greatest Champion.andrdquo;
The New York Times, 7/23/09
andldquo;Another Armstrong book?...Is there anything left to say or explain? Yes there is and Wilcockson says it and explains it meticulously, even controversiallyandhellip;Lance lets them all speak as Wilcockson blends their stories into a skillful portrait.andrdquo;
San Antonio Express News, 7/27/09
andldquo;If you're an Armstrong follower, a cyclist or a fan of sports nonfiction, Lance won't disappoint.andrdquo;
Bike World News, 9/1
andldquo;[F]or fans of Armstrong who are looking for a comprehensive look at his life, this book would fit the bill.andrdquo;
Buffalo News, 9/6
andldquo;[Wilcockson] offers a unique biography of Armstrong that intertwines the personal with the professional.andrdquo;
Synopsis
Many people know Lance Armstrong as the greatest cyclist in the world, a man the French call
Le Boss. Others hail him as a cancer survivor whose LiveStrong campaign has raised millions, or as the author of two inspirational autobiographies. But few people know of the many obstacles that this brash Texanwho entered his first bike race at 17, unlike fellow legendary athletes like Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods, who grew up with their chosen sportshad to overcome to win an incredible seven consecutive Tours de France, a feat that is unlikely ever to be duplicated.
So how did he become the worlds greatest living champion? In Lance Armstrong, John Wilcockson reveals how Armstrong overcame tremendous oddsa broken home, near-fatal cancer, repeated doping accusations, and hostile European crowds and mediato reach the pinnacle of his sport. Through the words of Armstrongs family, friends, rivals, and Lance himself, Wilcockson examines how Armstrong came to not only dominate the Tour de France but also become a worldwide icon.
Synopsis
The definitive life story of the 7-time Tour de France champion and force behind the phenomenally successful LiveStrong campaign
About the Author
John Wilcockson reported on his first Tour de France in 1968. He has written for Outside and Men's Journal and reported on major cycling events for NPR, the BBC World Service, and the New York Times. His many books include John Wilcockson's World of Cycling. He lives in Boulder, Colorado.Graham Watson has been covering the Tour de France since 1977. He lives near London.