The Race: A Novel of Grit, Tactics, and the Tour de France [Kindle Edition]

Dave Shields (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A white-knuckle ride ending in triumph, [it] reads like a murder-mystery. Warning: You won't be able to put it down." -- Seattle Magazine

"Good crisp writing. The bike races are breathtaking, and the plot zips along. A hard book to put down." -- Writer's Digest Book Awards

"A white-knuckle ride ending in triumph, [it] reads like a murder-mystery. Warning: You won't be able to put it down." -- Seattle Magazine

"Good crisp writing. The bike races are breathtaking, and the plot zips along. A hard book to put down." -- Writer's Digest Book Awards

... riveting action from the first sentence. You won't need any cycling knowledge... tough to put down. -- SWEAT Magazine, March 2004

Best New Voice in Fiction -- 2005 Benjamin Franklin Award Winner

I have a big problem with this book. It's impossible to put down. Dave Shields owes me a night's sleep. -- Terry Youmans, American Cycling

Man, what a sweet novel! -- Steve Medcroft, Bike.com

The author is a master of description. We rated this gripping book five hearts. -- Heartland Reviews, April 2004

This book was all too real. I feel like I just completed another Tour de France! --Frankie Andreu, 2 time Olympian and 9 time Tour de France rider

... riveting action from the first sentence. You won't need any cycling knowledge... tough to put down. -- SWEAT Magazine, March 2004

Best New Voice in Fiction -- 2005 Benjamin Franklin Award Winner

I have a big problem with this book. It's impossible to put down. Dave Shields owes me a night's sleep. -- Terry Youmans, American Cycling

Man, what a sweet novel! -- Steve Medcroft, Bike.com

The author is a master of description. We rated this gripping book five hearts. -- Heartland Reviews, April 2004

This book was all too real. I feel like I just completed another Tour de France! -- Frankie Andreu, 2 time Olympian and 9 time Tour de France rider

Product Description

Sheer tenacity has earned Ben Barnes the opportunity to ride in The Tour de France. He rises to every challenge, earning the admiration of his teammates, but there are also powerful forces aligned against him. When disaster strikes Ben is forced to confront both himself and his past more directly than he ever before dared.
What follows leaves the reader as white-knuckled as a cyclist plummeting down a serpentine descent. The Race careens around hairpin turns and sprints up daunting ascents as Ben rides to keep his word and regain his honor.

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Product Details

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 300 KB
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Up to 5 simultaneous devices, per publisher limits
• Publisher: Three Story Press (May 10, 2004)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0011CXQS4
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (75 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #574,746 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just in time for your vacation......., May 14, 2004

By 

S. moore (Gainesville, GA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Race: A Novel of Grit, Tactics, and the Tour de France (Paperback)

Really excellent! If you like bicycle racing (or don't understand bicycle racing and Lance Armstrong's efforts for a sixth Tour de France win have you interested) I think you'll find this book as money well spent. You may lose some sleep, not get the lawn mowed or the car washed...but you will be glad you took the time to read this insightful story about a young man who makes it all the way from a small town in Utah to the Tour de France. The chapters describing the pain, effort and resolve neccessary to win a mountian stage in the Tour are worth the price of admission.

If you liked The Yellow Jersey by Hurne you'll enjoy this one as well.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow! Great story and detail and with a message!, January 6, 2005

By 

Al Switzer - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Race: A Novel of Grit, Tactics, and the Tour de France (Paperback)

I thoroughly enjoyed "The Race". Like most who have commented, once I started reading it I couldn't put it down - had to read on to see what happened next. Mr. Shields has done a good job writing a fictional novel that contains all the "stuff" that you can guess that happens within a pro cycling team, with an international cast and varying degrees of ego. The characters, strategy, flashbacks to Ben's formative years create a good story with fast-paced action AND provide even non-cyclists with some motivation to never to give up. Cyclists and non-cyclists alike can enjoy this book. Bring on the sequel!

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very well done!, May 30, 2004

By 

MCB "mb1620" (NC United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Race: A Novel of Grit, Tactics, and the Tour de France (Paperback)

If you enjoy watching pro cycling on OLN then you will probably enjoy this book also.
Very fast reading, not a long story but the author paints a great word picture of pro cycling. Of course there is a bit of romance, drama, conflict, etc but mostly you feel like you are the one attacking on the mountain.
Fun book!!