Synopses & Reviews
For three weeks each July, millions of fans from around the world descend upon the French countryside to cheer on the "forcats de la route," or slaves of the road—the riders competing in the Tour de France. The event has captivated people for nearly a century who gather to witness the strength of the human spirit in its struggle to endure and overcome incredible obstacles to rise to the ranks of heroism. Covering over 2000 miles in 21 days, the cyclists make a grand circuit of the country, crossing over both the Alps and the Pyrenees mountains before racing to the finish line along the Champs-Elysees in Paris. Now almost one hundred years old, the legendary bicycle race has a rich and colorful past. Tour de France/Tour de Force offers a one-of-a-kind look back at the Tours history and its heroes. Arranged chronologically and illustrated with hundreds of wonderfully evocative photographs dating back to the Tours beginning in 1903, it documents the great victories and the harrowing disasters, the glory and the agony of this amazing competition. From the astounding stories of early cyclists who looped around France on rudimentary two-wheelers to contemporary chapters emphasizing the tactics and winning moves employed in recent races, the drama of the Tour comes to life in these pages. Featuring race results from 1903 all the way through to 1999, plus an introduction by three-time Tour winner Greg Lemond, and special sections on the evolution of the Tour de France bike and the controversial issue of performance-enhancing drugs, Tour de France/Tour de Force is the consummate guide to this truly extraordinary event in the world of sport.
Synopsis
Startt offers a one-of-a-kind look at the Tour's history and heroes. Arranged chronologically and illustrated with hundreds of wonderfully evocative photographs dating back to the Tour's beginning in 1903, this volume documents the great victories and the harrowing disasters, the glory and the agony of this amazing competition. 147 photos, 80 in color.
Synopsis
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.
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.