Every summer the world tunes in for the pageantry of the competition and the incredible scenery of the French countryside. For many spectators, especially casual watchers, having some background information and strategy would greatly enhance the experience. This book provides an incredible amount of history and detail in a clear and accessible manner.
The book is divided up logically, starting with the structure of the actual race and moving on to the history and development of the competition. So much has changed over the race's 116 year history, including the technology and materials of the bikes and gear the riders and teams use for racing, training, and equipping the riders. There is a chapter discussing all the behind the scenes communications and commentary as well as how the race data is compiled, interpreted, and presented to the viewers. There are chapters covering the teams, the different jerseys and what they represent, the differences between the stages and a very informative chapter on the darker side of cycle sports (doping and scandals).
The ebook version includes a handy interactive table of contents and hyperlinked index.
All in all, a very balanced and objective informational guide which can be enjoyed by reading cover to cover as well as a handy encyclopedia to consult whilst watching the race.
Four stars. Lots of great info here, well organized and understandable.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
No comments:
Post a Comment