Customer Reviews

The Story of the Tour De France

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As soon as I began reading this book on the website I was hooked; as hooked as we all were watching Stephen Roche catch up with Pedro Delgado at the top of La Plagne in stage 21 of the 1987 Tour or Greg LeMond's 8 second Tour victory over Laurent Fignon on the Champs-Elyses in 1989. These Tour memories are but two of many contained within this wonderful read. As I skimmed through the book, page by page, I knew I just had to have it and so I bought it. The book is an absolute treasure chest of all you ever needed to know about the most gruelling, and yet with it the most captivating, bike race in the world. It is such a joy to read because Bill and Carol have obviously completed what must have been a labour of love for them. And if the writing, which is superb, is not worth the purchase price alone then the photographs are breathtaking. I only hope my forthcoming "Tour de France Miscellany" (Carlton Publishing) is as good as "The Story of the Tour de France".
John White, Author of the "Tour de France Quiz Book" with a Foreword by Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen (Apex Publishing Limited, £8.99).

The Story of the Tour de France, Volume 1, is not only the finest documentary of the world's greatest sporting event, it genuinely places each moment of the Tour, from inception through 1964, within the political, social, and historical context of the time. This intelligently-written book gives the reader a focused sense of what things were like at the creation of the race, and how it changed through the years, right up to the dawn of modern bicycle racing. Bill and Carol craft narratives of the races that are crystaline, and they capture the pivotal moments of each race, always conveying the urgency and excitement. Nowhere have I seen these great races described in such interesting and captivating detail. The reader is placed back in time, observing these great riders almost as if they are there. More than just a series of race synopses, the book delves into the riding styles, personality traits, weaknesses, and foibles of many of the riders, giving a truly 3-dimensional picture of the races and racers. And when words cannot describe the torture of these early races, there are many photographs showing riders toiling over mountain passes on unpaved roads.

Many road biking enthusiasts may have heard the names Coppi, Anquetil, Leducq, and others, but they have never had them described so vividly. I know of no other book that provides imagery of the Tour de France as this book does. In that respect, it is singular and unique, and if it weren't so well wordsmithed, it would still win by default. If you ride a bicycle; if you have watched the Tour de France on television; or if you have an interest in the most grueling sporting event in the world, you must read this book. I can't wait for Volume 2.

Very highly recommended.

I'll admit this right up front. I'm a big-time fan of the Tour de France, and pre-disposed to liking this book. But this is a GREAT book anyway. Bill knows his subject, and writes as if he's the one newspaper reporter covering the race who really does have the inside scoop on what's going on. He lays out each year's race chronologically, taking no shortcuts, and always leaving you with that desire to know what happens next. You can put it down between years, but I dare you to find a stopping point within the chapter of each race!

This is not a coffee-table book with great photos, nor is it a first-person journey like Paul Kimmage's excellent "Rough Ride." Rather, it's a compelling re-telling of the race itself, seen with the clarity and knowledge that comes from exceptional research, in a style more similar to Sports Illustrated than a history book. Can't wait for Volume II covering 1965-on.

Bill and Carol have have given us a wonderful history of the first 60 years of the Tour de France. They have brought to life riders who are long forgotten but deserve to be remembered. The descriptions of riders with all of their strengths and flaws make them human. The descriptions of the races themsleves give the reader the impression that Bill was in the follow car behind the race. The Tour de France is a fascinating and complicated topic, and Bill and Carol do it justice and then some.

Beyond the descriptions of the races, the explanation of how the race itself developed and evolved is fascinating. To have a world class treatment of cycling history and sports marketing on the same pages is truly remarkable. I had no idea that a possible explanation for the yellow jersey is that yellow cloth was the cheapest cloth.

Finally, this book is a fun read. Bill and Carol's passion for cycling comes through beautifully. They express opinions and present the colorful history of the Tour in a lively and engaging manner. You will be richly rewarded for picking up this book.

Bill and Carol McGann have created an good blend of "who did what and when" along with background information to allow the reader to truly understand the spectacle that is Le Tour de France.
I admit I'm friends with them and that they've never seen Le Grand Boucle in person to my knowledge. I have, more than 10 editions. Reading their accounts of the Tours I saw in person made me realize how much effort they put into digging up interesting facts and putting each edition into context with the Tours that came before and after. I eagerly await their upcoming history of my favorite race, Il Giro d'Italia!

I've been a huge fan of cycling events, especially the Tour de France, since the mid-90's and as much reading as I do on the Tour, I must admit that I have never enjoyed a book as much as I have with The Story of the Tour de France by Bill and Carol McGann. The time line, the cyclists, stage wins, general classifications, and every bit of detail in between provides a pace that has you looking forward to the pages ahead but has you dread reaching the end. You simply will not find another book out there this detailed!

Having followed the Tour de France for 25 years and read as much as I could about the event and its participants, I thoroughly enjoyed the McGann's in-depth study of the Tour from 1903 to 1964. McGann includes personal accounts by the racers and officials making each tour come alive. Each race is picked apart and analyzed as to who won and lost and why. If you like this type of thorough-ness, I whole-heartedly recommend the McGann's "The Story of the Tour de France."

This book (Volume 1 of 2) covers each Tour de France race leading up to the first TdF race in 1903 through 1964 race: the racers, the start, the problems, the rivals (countries and individuals), and the winners. For those who want to delve further into the history, the firsts, and the memorable events you hear the TV commentators mention as you watch the peleton spinning along the coast of Normandy. Check out Volume 2 also.

I can't say how much I enjoyed reading the Mcgann's book. I think someone else called it a labor of love, and it shows. All the information you need to know is there without a lot of time-wasting filler. The book is well researched and the facts are accurate. Any observations the authors make only add to your enjoyment and understanding of the Tour de France and the motivations of the people taking part in it, which is not always an easy task. The authors keep you up to date with what's happening with the main contenders, so you don't need a program to keep up with all the players. Bravo!

This book needs a good editor. It contains lots of facts, but the editing is poor. There were a variety of reasons that this book was hard to read. There were some basic problems with the use of numbers: "he won the next 2 stages" as opposed to "he won the next two stages". The book was laid out along a very strict time line, with little chance to understand the personalities of the riders. There were also small editorial comments thrown in along the way that only distracted the reader and did nothing to add to the story.

I do not want to be totally negative. The book seemed to be well-researched, maybe the best English-language history available. However, I would urge the publisher to re-work the narratives significantly prior to the release of the next edition. I would have enjoyed a more readable book.