The Tour de France starts next Saturday in Liege, Belgium. I will be there only in spirit. Regular readers of this website may know that the Tour is something of an obsession for me. I saw it in person with my wife in 1998 and 2001. Whether you are a returning viewer or you will be watching the festivities for the first time on the Outdoor Life Network, here are a few recommendations for supplimental reading when you aren’t watching TV:
- It’s Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life by Lance Armstrong with Sally Jenkins will go down in history as one of the best sports autobiographies. If you haven’t read it, this is a great time to do so. I’ve read the book three times, and I get something different out of it each time.
- The Tour De France Companion by Bob Roll and Dan Koeppel is a book I haven’t seen yet. Bob Roll is currently one of the commentators on The Outdoor Life Network and will be quite visible during their Tour coverage. He has a bit of a cult following because of his playful personality and colorful commentary. I’m hoping to get a review copy this week.
- French Revolutions: Cycling the Tour de France by Tim Moore. What it’s like for a 36-year-old amateur cyclist to ride the same routes as that year’s entire Tour de France. This book has been likened to travelogues by Bill Bryson, but is played out on a stage-by-stage basis over the Tour route. Tour history and traditions are sprinkled throughout. I’ve read excerpts of this book and they are quite funny.
- Off to the Races: 25 Years of Cycling Journalism by Samuel Abt. Abt is one of the most famous cycling journalists writing in English. He covers European cycling for The International Herald Tribune and The New York Times. This book has stories of the careers of Miguel Indurain, Greg Lemond, Bernard Hinault, and Mario Cipollini, not to mention Lance Armstrong. It also has some very good Graham Watson photos.
- The Official Tour De France: Centennial 1903-2003. This book came out to commorate the 100th anniversary of the Tour de France, and was published in several languages. It’s primarily written from the Tour organizer’s historical perspective, and focuses on the battles for the Yellow Jersey each year.
There are many other books you may want to consider in addition to these. I hope that I have chosen a good variety. If you have particular favorites, feel free to add a comment about them.