The book is praised for its engaging and accessible content about the Tour de France, featuring notable cyclists and their defining moments. However, the writing style is criticized for lacking suspense and depth, which could have made the stories more compelling.
Readers appreciate the book's focus on the Tour de France and its inclusion of famous cyclists like Pantani, Merckx, and Hinault. The chapters are self-contained and provide a good length for each story, making it accessible to anyone interested in the sport. The book highlights the difficulty of winning a stage in the Tour de France and introduces readers to lesser-known cyclists. However, the writing style is criticized for missing opportunities to create suspense and depth. The book could have benefited from a more engaging narrative, especially given the unique concept and the interviews conducted with the cyclists. Despite these criticisms, the book is seen as a valuable addition to the literature on cycling.
Quick quotes
The chapters are all self-contained and a good length.
It introduced me to some names I wasn't so familiar with too - Pantani, Merckx and Hinault, LeMond.
The book really underlines just how difficult it is to win a stage of the Tour de France.