The Tour

by Dave Shields

Having won the coveted yellow jersey in stage 10, cyclist Ben Barnes continues his quest to win the Tour de France in this sequel to The Race . Despite his attempts to distance himself from the traditional political maneuvering, Ben falls victim to the repercussions associated with his success and comes face to face with outright sabotage and ongoing conflicts with team owners. This treachery, however, becomes insignificant in comparison to the specter of illegal, performance-enhancing drugs. Experiencing extreme pressure to prevail, Ben contemplates how he can be successful amidst challengers who have stacked the odds in their favor. Difficulties with his girlfriend and brutal weather conditions throughout the remaining 10 stages further conspire to derail Ben as he ascends Plateau de Bonsacre and Luz Ardiden, races through Cannes and Bordeaux, and strives to be the first to cross the finish line on the Champs-Elysées.

Genres: Cycling, Sports, Fiction

240 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2006

Reviews

[Noah Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

good book

[Lexie Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it! Reading this was the first time that I actually understood the strategy behind a huge bike race like the tour!

[Ross · Rating 2 out of 5]

Still haven't found the great cycling novel. I enjoy these just because of the cycling and because the protagonist was raised in Utah.

[Caitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a pleasant little fictional romp portraying a cyclist battling in the Tour de France. If you like cycling, and its required suffering, you will like this book.

[Bo Trapnell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another fun cycling read by Shields