The Official History Of The Tour De France

The Official History of the Tour de France is a celebration of one of the greatest annual sporting events, and the premier competition in world cycling. Through more than 300 photographs, rarely-seen documents and items of memorabilia, this book covers more than a century of fascinating stories on the Tour and its iconic yellow jersey. This revised and updated edition includes an authoritative narrative account of each major era, up to and including the thrilling 2020 Tour - a dramatic contest completed against all the odds - and a preview of the 2021 event. There are features on superstar cyclists and memorable moments from each period of the event's rich history, and a foreword from legendary Tour de France champion Stephen Roche, all of which combines to form the definitive illustrated book on the Tour.

Geoffrey Wheatcroft's hugely entertaining and well researched history of the Tour de France is already established as the definitive account of cycling's greatest event. Since the book was last published in 2007, much has changed. Bradley Wiggins' historic victory in 2012 - the first Briton ever to secure the yellow jersey - brought him a knighthood and garnered more interest in the race than ever before. Yet the months after were dominated by an even bigger story, as Tour legend and seven-time winner Lance Armstrong was stripped of his titles and confessed on Oprah to doping in each of his victories. Suddenly, everything that we thought we knew had happened was no longer true. In this new and comprehensively revised edition of the book, Wheatcroft not only brings his story of the Tour fully up to date to mark the race's 100th running in 2013, he also reflects on the changes brought about by the scandals that have rocked the sport to its core. Yet for all the controversies of modern times, he vividly captures the essential glory and romance of the heroes who battle to conquer one of sport's greatest challenges.

Filled with features and fabulous images, this official celebration of the famed Tour de France is now updated to include the 2017 race Generally considered the greatest test of endurance in sports, the Tour de France covers more than 2,200 miles in just over three weeks, climbing high into both the Alps and Pyrenees before ending on Paris's iconic Champs- lys es. This updated edition, with brand-new features and stories, gives an authoritative account of each major era up to and including the 2017 Tour--when Britain's Chris Froome joined an elite club of four-time and three-in-a-row winners. In addition to more than 300 photographs, some dating back to the nineteenth century, there are features on the superstars, coverage of memorable moments in every era, thrilling action shots, and pictures of souvenir brochures, period newspapers, posters, stickers, postcards, and letters will engross every fan of the sport.

In this highly original history of the world's most famous bicycle race, Christopher S. Thompson, mining previously neglected sources and writing with infectious enthusiasm for his subject, tells the compelling story of the Tour de France from its creation in 1903 to the present. Weaving the words of racers, politicians, Tour organizers, and a host of other commentators together with a wide-ranging analysis of the culture surrounding the event including posters, songs, novels, films, and media coverage Thompson links the history of the Tour to key moments and themes in French history. Examining the enduring popularity of Tour racers, Thompson explores how their public images have changed over the past century. A new preface explores the long-standing problem of doping in light of recent scandals.

Comprising an authoritative narrative account of each major era in the history of the epic race, up to and including the 2007 Tour, this work also contains 40 facsimile items of sporting memorabilia integrated into its pages. The greatest endurance test in sports, the Tour de France covers more than 2,200 miles in just over three weeks, climbing high into the Alps and Pyrenees on a circular journey around France and into neighboring countries before ending on the Champs-Élysées. This official publication of the Tour's organizers presents an authoritative history of the sport, including 40 items of rare memorabilia such as personal letters from champions, logbook entries, regulations from 1910, and more!

Fully revised and updated for 2023, this is a celebration of one of the greatest annual sporting events. Including over 300 photos.

The only guide to the Tour de France that's fully endorsed by the organizers of the race, the only one with unrestricted access to the archives, and the only one with a foreword by Lance Armstrong! It's much bigger and better than any of its competitors-but not more expensive. And it's updated to celebrate Armstrong's amazing record-shattering sixth victory. "The writing is stylish and exuberant."--Publishers Weekly "Beautiful....[a] definitive, year-by-year account [with] wonderful photographs."--Library Journal For more than a century, the Tour de France has offered a spectacle filled with unparalleled passion, adventure, and sheer physical difficulty. Here is the definitive, official, and fully up-to-date record of that thrilling sporting phenomenon, produced in collaboration with L'Equipe, France's premier sports daily, and with a foreword by the six-time winner and international sports celebrity, Lance Armstrong. With access to the Tour de France's own archives, this huge, lushly photographed volume chronicles the race from its raw origins more than one hundred years ago to its current position as the world's greatest sporting challenge. Year by year, follow the grit and glory, victory and defeat, bravery and controversy, in the words of the players themselves.

Presents a pictoral history of the Tour de France, highlighting the athletes, memorable races, and the scandals.