In Search of Robert Millar: Unravelling the Mystery Surrounding Britain's Most Successful Tour De France Cyclist [Hardcover]

Richard Moore (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 28, 2007

The compelling story of Britain's best-ever cyclist, this book looks to unravel the puzzle surrounding his sudden and dramatic disappearance. Cyclist Robert Millar came from one of Europe's most industrialized cities, Glasgow, to excel in the most unlikely terrain—over the high mountain passes of the Pyrenees and the Alps. He was crowned King of the Mountains during the 1984 Tour de France and remains the only ever Briton to finish on the podium of the world's toughest race. Through interviews with Millar's friends, acquaintances, cycling colleagues and ex-classmates, the author seeks to unravel the mystery of this maverick Scotsman, arguably one of the greatest enigmas in a sport full of remarkable characters.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'A classic bird-like climber, light ands wiry in build, Millar was the best British cyclist, all round, since Tom Simpson' William Fotheringham '..a prodigious work of research, (which)..delivers overdue illumination of a fascinating Scot'. The Glasgow Herald 'Millar stands as a substantial figure of sport' The Herald

About the Author

Richard Moore is a freelance journalist who has written on sport, art and literature, contributing to the Scotsman, Scotland on Sunday, Herald, Guardian and Sunday Times. He was a member of the Scotland team in the Prutour, the nine-day cycling tour of Britain, and represented Scotland in the 1998 Commonwealth Games.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins UK (September 28, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0007235011
• ISBN-13: 978-0007235018
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.6 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #824,969 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Better than I expected, December 24, 2007

By 

Daniel H. Defrees - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: In Search of Robert Millar: Unravelling the Mystery Surrounding Britain's Most Successful Tour De France Cyclist (Hardcover)

I found this book suprisingly interesting. I had only had vague recollections of Millar from his cycling days in the 80's and 90's. Racing along side LeMond and Hinault when the TDF first came on the radar of American cyclist. The book is very well written and had me hooked from beginning to end. It can even serve as a prelude to the drug invested Peleton we see now.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars As the back cover quote says, "Meticulously reserached and lovingly constructed", September 7, 2010

By 

David Anderson - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: In Search of Robert Millar: Unravelling the Mystery Surrounding Britain's Most Successful Tour de France Cyclist (Paperback)

I found this book fascinating and compelling. I could hardly put it down and devoured it cover to cover. I remember Millar as a boyhood hero of mine. He came to prominence just as the Tour De France began to be televised on British TV. However, I never understood his meticulous attention to detail, particularly his diet and his health. He planned every step up in his career with a very scientific approach and he was so incredibly honest and forthright about his own ability and chances. Millar seems like a visionary now. His insights on toxins and food additives are seen as mainstream now while back in the 80s they made him a freak.

The book provides fascinating insights into many other characters of the cycling scene in the 80s and 90s including Paul Sherwen, Stephen Roche, Sean Yates, Martin Earley, Sean Kelly, Pedro Delgado, Allan Peiper, Graeme Obree, Chris Boardman, even a young Lance Armstrong gets a mention. It also paints quite a horrid picture of the politics of pro cycling and life for riders on the teams back in the 80s. It's amazing to learn how ineffective the management was and to read of truly horrific lack of leadership and the resultant squandered talent.

Millar remains the best ever British pro and the only English speaking rider to win the King of the Mountains in the Tour de France. This book is a fitting tribute to a heavily misunderstood personality whose achievements are only truly being appreciated two decades later. I see Robert Millar in a new light and I'd like to thank Richard Moore for making this possible.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good read, July 5, 2010

By 

rider - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: In Search of Robert Millar: Unravelling the Mystery Surrounding Britain's Most Successful Tour de France Cyclist (Paperback)

If you are into cycling history this will be a book for you. Millar is enigmatic and its hard to really paint a good picture of the guy, but Moore does as well as anyone could expect. In some ways it's a shame Millar didn't agree to really open up to him at the end. The book steadily built toward that, but the resolution never came. I guess the more predictable ending wouldn't have fit this subject anyway. Somehow getting some limited email contact and then an abrupt ending seems perfect in that sense.