The Tour de France stands as the most grueling sports event globally, a three-week, 2,000-mile test of endurance and skill, attracting the largest live audience annually. Beyond being a sporting epic, it has woven itself into the fabric of French national culture, with the achievements of seven-time champion Lance Armstrong boosting international interest. This visual journey through the race's history showcases the extreme conditions faced by early competitors and the controversies of recent years, capturing the emotions tied to its rich sporting, social, and cultural legacy. Stunning photographs highlight cycling's greatest champions and the evolving landscape of France over the past century. The narrative features iconic figures from Maurice Garin to Eddy Merckx and the modern Armstrong era, illustrating the heroism, passion, and tragedy inherent in the race. The excitement surrounding the three-week circuit is palpable, with dramatic starts, thrilling finishes, and celebrity fans like Orson Welles and Robin Williams. Roadside spectators eagerly await the peloton against the backdrop of France's breathtaking scenery. This comprehensive account culminates with the Tour's inaugural visit to London in 2007, marking a significant milestone in its storied history.
Jeremy Whittle Knihy
By his 18th birthday David Millar was living and racing in France, sleeping in rented rooms, tipped to be the next English-speaking Tour winner. A year later he'd realised the dream and signed a professional contract with the Cofidis team, who had one Lance Armstrong on their books. He perhaps lived the high life a little too enthusiastically -- high on a roof after too much drink , he broke his heel in a fall, and before long the pressure to succeed had tipped over into doping. Here, in a full and frank autobiography, David Millar recounts the story from the inside: he doped because 'cycling's drug culture was like white noise', and because of peer pressure. 'I doped for money and glory in order to guarantee the continuation of my status.' Five years on from his arrest, Millar is clean and reflective, and holds nothing back in this account of his dark years.