Synopses & Reviews
The sensational New York Times bestselling in-depth look at Lance Armstrongand#8217;s doping scandal, the phenomenal business success built on the back of fraud, and the greatest conspiracy in the history of sports. Now with a new afterword.
Lance Armstrong won a record-smashing seven Tours de France after staring down cancer, and in the process became an international symbol of resilience and courage. In a sport constantly dogged by blood-doping scandals, he seemed above the fray. Then, in January 2013, the legend imploded. He admitted doping during the Tours and, in an interview with Oprah, described his "mythic, perfect story" as "one big lie." But his admission raised more questions than it answeredand#151;because he didnand#8217;t say who had helped him dope or how he skillfully avoided getting caught.
The Wall Street Journaland#160;reporters Reed Albergotti and Vanessa Oand#8217;Connell broke the news at every turn. Inand#160;Wheelmenand#160;they reveal the broader story of how Armstrong and his supporters used money, power, and cutting-edge science to conquer the worldand#8217;s most difficult race.and#160;Wheelmenand#160;introduces U.S. Postal Service Team owner Thom Weisel, who in a brazen power play ousted USA Cyclingand#8217;s top leadership and gained control of the sport in the United States, ensuring Armstrongand#8217;s dominance. Meanwhile, sponsors fought over contracts with Armstrong as the entire sport of cycling began to benefit from the "Lance effect." What had been a quirky, working-class hobby became the pastime of the Masters of the Universe set.
Wheelmenand#160;offers a riveting look at what happens when enigmatic genius breaks loose from the strictures of morality. It reveals the competitiveness and ingenuity that sparked blood-doping as an accepted practice, and shows how the Americans methodically constructed an international operation of spies and revolutionary technology to reach the top. It went on to become aand#160;New York Timesand#160;Bestseller, aand#160;Wall Street Journal Businessand#160;Bestseller, and win numerous awards, including a Gold Medal for the Axiom Business Book Awards. At last exposing the truth about Armstrong and American cycling,and#160;Wheelmenand#160;paints a living portrait of what is, without question, the greatest conspiracy in the history of sports. and#160;
Review
"Authoritative and overflows with forceful detailsand#8230;.Albergotti and O'Connell write like insiders looking out."
and#8212;Los Angeles Times
"A chilling tale, and many of the anecdotes Albergotti and Oand#8217;Connell collected sound like they were actually crafted in a TV-drama writersand#8217; room."
and#8212;The Atlantic
"Reed Albergotti and Vanessa Oand#8217;Connell uncovered plenty more shocking details about the full extent of Armstrongand#8217;s drug use as well as the many people and institutions that helped him."
and#8212;The Daily Beast
"The most comprehensive book on the subject and#8230; a colorful and thorough retelling."
and#8212;USA Today
"Captivating . . . a level-headed view of the culture and business of cycling."
and#8212;The Economist
"The book is rich in details, facts, and figures."
and#8212;Velo News
"Wheelmenand#160;is all the truth-and-reconciliation the sport needs."
and#8212;The Philadelphia Review of Books
and#160;
"The only thing ever missing was the truth. Inand#160;Wheelmen, we get it."
and#8212;Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
"A detailed account of Armstrong's eventual descent into disgrace."
and#8212;The Guardianand#160;(UK)
and#160;
"The definitive book on Armstrong."
and#8212;The Montreal Gazette
About the Author
Reed Albergotti is a reporter covering the technology industry in The Wall Street Journal's San Francisco bureau. He is also the son of a fanatic amateur cyclist who served as the director of cycling competition in the 1984 Olympics. An accomplished bike racer himself, Reed speaks the sportand#8217;s odd language.
Vanessa O'Connell, an award-winning reporter at The Wall Street Journal for eighteen years, has covered tobacco, alcohol, guns, insider trading, and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. She has a knack for exposing the nature of corporate America and how it sometimes manipulates the score in making its money.and#160;