The Tour de France... to the Bitter End

by William Fotheringham (Introduction), William Fotheringham (Introduction)

From small beginnings to doping a history of the Tour as reported by the Guardian and Observer .
 
Having started in 1903 as a publicity stunt for an ailing French newspaper, the Tour de France is now the world's greatest sporting spectacle. Back then, cyclists raced alone through the night, sometimes at the risk of being beaten up. Today's riders pedal 3,500 km around the French countryside, cheered on by huge roadside crowds and accompanied by the mighty caravan of media, sponsors and support staff that keeps the wheels turning. But one thing hasn't the Tour remains just as awe-inspiring a test of extreme mental and physical stamina as it has always been.
 
The Tour de France... to the bitter end is the best of over a century of Guardian and Observer Tour reporting, with pieces from Christopher Brasher, Michael Davie, Geoffrey Nicholson, William Fotheringham, Richard Williams, Phil Liggett and many other writers seduced by the power of the peloton.

Genres: Cycling, Nonfiction

272 pages, Paperback

First published September 25, 2012

Reviews

[Rachel Stevenson · Rating 3 out of 5]

From plus ça change (in the early days of le Tour, there was a prize for the most amiable rider, the average speed of the first winner was 16 mph and his prize was 3,000 FF, cyclists carrying their own tools and fixing their own bikes, 3 a.m. starts) to plus ça meme chose (French spectators may have thrown piss in Chris Froome's face but they never tied him to a tree as they did an Italian rider, Yorkshire riders doing well, fines from the organisers for ridiculous infractions) - this is a comprehensive history of the Tour by means of reportage from the Guardian and Observer from Edwardian times to Lance Armstrong (the book was published in 2012, just before Wiggins' win) via Tommy Simpson, Coppi and Bartoli, Pedro Delgardo, Bernard Hinault, Greg LeMond, Chris Boardman and the first view of Cav.

[Cathal McGuinness · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating and brilliantly written account of one of sport's great endeavours!

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting collection of Guardian articles going back through the history of Le Tour. Mainly focussed on more recent years (the first 60 pages covers up to the early 60s). A good read, I liked the pieces for the 1980s.

It would be an excellent idea to have an updated version. This ends with Contador being suspended and the suggestion that Lance Armstrong's 7 wins will likely stand the test of time. Of course, we all know very different now and an updated version to cover this ground would appear to now be vital.

[Tom Templeton · Rating 3 out of 5]

This a really interesting collection of articles about the Tour de France that charts the history of the great race and the British attitude towards it. I felt that the book stopped just as it all got really interesting - Armstrong being accused of doping and Bradley Wiggins beginning to make a name for himself - so hopefully they will update it at some point.