Inside the Tour de France: The Pictures, the Legends, and the Untold Stories of the World's Most Beloved Bicycle Race [Hardcover]

Eric Delanzy (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 30, 2006

With rare access to the remarkable photo archive of the Tour de France, this volume captures through stunning images and moving vignettes the breathtaking drama, heartbreak, and joy of the world's most captivating cycling event.

Few sporting events can match the splendor and spectacle of the Tour de France--as teams of cyclists gather each July in quest of the coveted yellow jersey, ready to take on the 23-day chase through the French countryside lined with millions of spectators, and the winding and steep climbs and harrowing descents of the mountainous peaks of the Pyrennees and Alps.

Created with the endorsement of the Tour organization and carrying the official TDF logo, this rich anecdotal and photographic history depicts, both the classic, almost mythic tales that have defined the event over the years, and the rare, untold glimpses from behind the scenes. Offering coverage through 2005, it will be the first historical overview to include coverage of Lance Armstrong's record-shattering seventh consecutive win.

Each full-page spread stands on its own, allowing the reader to pick the book up anywhere and instantly absorb the magic moments that have enthralled fans for over 100 years. This is a beautiful, coffee table book, one that any cyclist or Tour fan will proudly display and eagerly peruse.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

ERIC DELANZY is a French sports journalist who contributes to various daily newspapers and national weekly magazines.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Rodale Books (May 30, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1594862303
• ISBN-13: 978-1594862304
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 8.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #737,796 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Past & present legends, April 21, 2007

By 

Enrique Torres "Rico" (San Diegotitlan, Califas) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Inside the Tour de France: The Pictures, the Legends, and the Untold Stories of the World's Most Beloved Bicycle Race (Hardcover)

I loved reading this book and learning about all the legends of the Tour de France. What is especially entertaining is the way it is written. The format makes for excellent "reading bites" that do not require long sessions turning pages. Every two pages is a complete story. There are eleven chapters and two pages within each chapter that tell a story of significance history about the tour; one page is a photograph of the event described either in black and white or color and the other page tells the story and usually includes another smaller picture. This makes for very little reading perse but the story on each page is covered sufficiantly. Having watched the modern Tour de France since the eighties I was familiar with much of the tales about the heroes and tragedies that has come to some riders of the world's greatest race. However , I knew very little about the era before televison beamed the event worldwide. This I found to be very interesting as the stories about the Tour de France colorful past were presented in living detail complete with images of their historic time period. The origianl race was only six stages in 1903 but averaged 250 miles each! In 1910 the famous Pyrenees were introduced to the race. The behind the scenes events were particularly engrossing. Much is done to win a race that never gets much attention in the American press so it was nice to read about some of the things that have occurred behind the scenes at the Tour de France. The end of the book deals with the modern era and there you will find information about Lance Armstrong and his historic march to seventh tour victories and the perpetual second place best finishes of Jan Ullrich. Of course there is information about all the greats of the tour including the legends, Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Mercx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain each of whom had achieved five victories apiece before failing on their sixth attempt to win the Tour de France. The tragic death of Tom Simpson, fighting to win the yellow jersey, high on alcohol and drugs, plus the blistering heat led to his collapse and death on Mount Ventoux but not before his last words of "put me back on my bike" is also covered. Also the memorial ride in silence for Lance Armstrong's Motorola teamamte Fabio Casartelli who had a fatal crash in 1995 when he couldn't handle a turn. The comparison of eras is compelling. It is engaging to see the old timers riding their machines and posing for photographs in post race attire with a cigarette dangling from their mouths. I can't imagine how good they could have been if they had modern machines and did not smoke! All in all this was a very stimulating read that informs and entertains. Recommended for bike enthuisiasts or those that love the world's greatest race, The Tour de France.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tour lore, charmingly told, beautifully pictured, January 27, 2008

By 

Bill McGann "Author of The Story of the Tour ... (Cherokee Village, AR, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Inside the Tour de France: The Pictures, the Legends, and the Untold Stories of the World's Most Beloved Bicycle Race (Hardcover)

The Tour de France has been held for over 100 years. Over that time, remarkable men have performed incredible deeds. That lore, the stories of these great men in their search for glory, is well told by Eric Delanzy.

Each tale is an episode from a particular Tour and each is just a page long. Some of the stories have been told over and over, such as Christophe's broken fork in the 1913 Tour. I do have a small quibble. Delanzy repeats the Peugeot disinformation that Christophe's broken fork was the result of a collision with a car. Christophe's memoirs and contemporary accounts make no mention of this cause. Other stories were new to me; such as Bottecchia's riding in disguise in the 1924 Tour so that when the race dipped into Italy he would not be mobbed by adoring Italian fans.

Accompanying the text is a superb collection of photographs. The result is like a wonderful box of chocolates. You can try to eat (or read) just one, but it is impossible to stop. I got sucked into this charming book and killed an afternoon that I was supposed to spend working.

It was an afternoon well spent.

3.0 out of 5 stars Inside the Tour De France, April 1, 2011

By 

M. T. BuFalry (San Diego CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Inside the Tour de France: The Pictures, the Legends, and the Untold Stories of the World's Most Beloved Bicycle Race (Hardcover)

Fun book filled with odd facts and stories of TDF, old and contemporary. Some real great photos, some photos that are pretty common.