‘The classic races and legendary Champions’
- Century of Cycling at Amazon.co.uk
- Century of Cycling at Amazon.com
A century of cycling provides an intriguing overview to the different races in the professional cycling calendar. Quite often books tend to focus on a few big races like the Tour de France. However, this ignores the great classic one day races such as Paris-Roubaix and Milan San Remo.
The author, William Fotheringham, has a clear passion for the sport of cycling. The book takes the time to research some of the fascinating characters which have dominated the sport and some of the more bizarre editions of the race. For example, in the 1949 Paris Roubaix edition, the leading cyclists were sent on a wrong turn and ended up entering the track via the press box.
There is a good mix between the big races and the famous champions; it helps to provide the human perspective on all the races and lists of winners. The photography is very good. The black and white photos are particularly evocative of a former era of professional cycling.
No book on professional cycling could avoid the doping issue. On this issue the authors strike a right balance. They don’t shy away from the issue, but, at the same time don’t let it dominate the book, which it could do in some regard.
If you have a love of professional cycling you will be intrigued by this potted history of the great races and great champions. It leaves one with a bitter sweat feeling – so much heroism, courage and endurance, but also not without a fair portion of skulduggery and cheating.
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