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Triumphs and Turbulence: My Autobiography
Chris Boardman is the 2017 winner of the Cross Sports Cycling Book of the Year for his autobiography Triumphs and Turbulence.
You may know him as the much-loved co-presenter of ITV’s Tour de France coverage or enjoyed his BBC Olympic coverage, but beyond the easy charm Chris Boardman is one of our greatest, most inspiring cyclists.
Boardman’s lone achievements in the 80s and 90s – Olympic track gold, the world hour record, repeatedly claiming the yellow jersey in the Tour de France – were the spark that started the modern era for British cycling. His endeavours both on and off the bike have made him the founding father of current golden generation – without him there would simply be no Hoy, Wiggins or Cavendish.
It is a story full of intrigue: from Olympic success, to the famous duels with Graeme Obree and the insanity of the Tour de France. Chris became a legend for his combination of physical ability and technical preparation, almost single-handedly taking British cycling from wool shirts and cloth caps into the era of marginal gains. Indeed, after his career on the bike ended, a new chapter began as the backroom genius behind GB cycling. As head of the R&D team known as The Secret Squirrel Club, Chris has been responsible for the technical innovations that made the difference in 2012 and developed Boardman Bikes, which has become the country's bestselling premium bike range.
You may know him as the much-loved co-presenter of ITV’s Tour de France coverage or enjoyed his BBC Olympic coverage, but beyond the easy charm Chris Boardman is one of our greatest, most inspiring cyclists.
Boardman’s lone achievements in the 80s and 90s – Olympic track gold, the world hour record, repeatedly claiming the yellow jersey in the Tour de France – were the spark that started the modern era for British cycling. His endeavours both on and off the bike have made him the founding father of current golden generation – without him there would simply be no Hoy, Wiggins or Cavendish.
It is a story full of intrigue: from Olympic success, to the famous duels with Graeme Obree and the insanity of the Tour de France. Chris became a legend for his combination of physical ability and technical preparation, almost single-handedly taking British cycling from wool shirts and cloth caps into the era of marginal gains. Indeed, after his career on the bike ended, a new chapter began as the backroom genius behind GB cycling. As head of the R&D team known as The Secret Squirrel Club, Chris has been responsible for the technical innovations that made the difference in 2012 and developed Boardman Bikes, which has become the country's bestselling premium bike range.
327 pages, Hardcover
First published June 5, 2014
29 people are currently reading
113 people want to read
About the author
Chris Boardman
11 books3 followersChristopher Miles Boardman, MBE, is a British former racing cyclist who won an individual pursuit gold medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics, broke the world hour record three times, and won three stages and wore the yellow jersey on three separate occasions at the Tour de France. In 1992, he was awarded an MBE for services to cycling.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
January 5, 2017
Self-deprecating and insightful autobiography – perhaps stronger on things like the “Secret Squirrel” role, his lack of self-confidence and struggles with post-success (after both the Olympic medal, hour record and Tour prologue) than on his professional career (which, other than prologue victories – recounted in detail – rarely goes beyond simple facts of positions in races).
June 7, 2019
I really really enjoyed reading this book and learnt a lot too as I hadn’t realised how successful and pioneering CB has been. I love cycling, which helps and I love stories of the old days... particularly the development of GB cycling nd how it’s gone from nothing to Amazing... and CB was a key player in that. Chris tells his story with wit and an eye on realism founded in what he sees has his own failings as a person... but he’s c9me out the other side. Great stuff.
July 20, 2019
Fantastic book, great insight into Chris’s cycling career and behind the scenes in British cycling.
Really enjoyed the writing style and the stories.
Unfortunately a story had me silently crying laughing at a hotel breakfast yesterday which caused a waiter to ask if I was upset....
Highly recommend
Really enjoyed the writing style and the stories.
Unfortunately a story had me silently crying laughing at a hotel breakfast yesterday which caused a waiter to ask if I was upset....
Highly recommend
September 3, 2017
A very good sporting autobiography from a very interesting sportsman. Boardman's renowned dry wit comes through very well. It's very readable too. Thoroughly recommended to cycling fans but it also has some interesting material on management.
February 20, 2018
Rarely did it grip forcing me to keep reading. Some parts are better than the others. For me the second half focusing on his career after active pro cycling was more interesting. Overall quite flat. At times feels like just a bit more that his Wikipedia page.
June 19, 2018
Great book.
In this book Chris uses the same sense of humour the he has in his TV work. I can remember all of his pro career and it was good to be reminded of the good and bad times.
In this book Chris uses the same sense of humour the he has in his TV work. I can remember all of his pro career and it was good to be reminded of the good and bad times.
Read
January 13, 2021Excellent autobiography. Follows him through from teenage years up to his involvement in London 2012 olympics. His dry sense of humour is fantastic and there throughout. He also admits mistakes or life lessons he's learnt and is very down to earth. One of the best autobiographies I've read
March 19, 2021
Great biography, more interesting than Geraint Thomas' books.
I didn't know Chris Boardman but became interested after hearing his Desert Island Disks.
Really interesting to hear so many stories about what made British Cycling what it is today!
I didn't know Chris Boardman but became interested after hearing his Desert Island Disks.
Really interesting to hear so many stories about what made British Cycling what it is today!
September 25, 2024
Wouldn't have wanted to be his partner in the pro cyclist days, but Boardman is a wonderful athlete and cycling advocate and I thoroughly enjoyed the insight from this, especially the Secret Squirrel Club stuff.
August 20, 2017
Great book, made me a chuckle a lot, Chris Boardman comes across as a very driven but genuine bloke. I've always liked him on TV and this just reinforces my view of him
December 25, 2018
Most of the story we already knew from the top British timetrialist to a designer of Halfords premium brand of road bikes.
June 29, 2021
This was well written and an interesting overview of a full life.
January 20, 2023
Addictive to read
Would be a good first autobiography to read as a fast paced and very interesting life journey
Would be a good first autobiography to read as a fast paced and very interesting life journey
August 18, 2023
Much funnier than I expected, Chris has an easy writing style and I enjoyed all of his stories, overall 4 stars.
August 6, 2017
Excellent read
Very interesting read about someone who has done so much for British cycling and is an unsung hero of the recent success
Very interesting read about someone who has done so much for British cycling and is an unsung hero of the recent success
January 6, 2026
Chris Boardman won gold in the individual pursuit at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, which made him the first British cyclist to win an Olympic medal in 75 years.
His autobiography charts his career in cycling from his teenage years growing up and building his skills in the Wirral, through his success as an amateur and then professional, to hanging up his helmet to work in management and R&D for British Cycling, and finally the designing and creation of Boardman Bikes.
Boardman had great professional successes throughout his career and was driven to improve, looking at his own performance by working with the scientific community on statistical and quantifiable data, looking to improve aerodynamics, bike engineering, materials and training regimes. This would eventually lead to R&D for the British Olympic team and proved vital to their success in the 2008 and 2012 games.
Boardman is a warm and engaging writer with a great sense of humour and pacing to his stories. He knows how to tell a good anecdote and shares engaging tales of his fellow cyclists, colleagues and friends. He is passionate and honest about the sacrifices he and, especially, his family made for him to have his career and be able to focus solely on that for many years. He is self-aware about his strengths and mistakes, with an emphasis on hard work and collaboration as key to building his success.
I have little understanding of the cycling world, but Boardman explains the complexities and lore to the reader very well so that I came away with a better idea and much greater respect for the cyclists, the sport, and all the people behind the scenes who work hard to support them.
His autobiography charts his career in cycling from his teenage years growing up and building his skills in the Wirral, through his success as an amateur and then professional, to hanging up his helmet to work in management and R&D for British Cycling, and finally the designing and creation of Boardman Bikes.
Boardman had great professional successes throughout his career and was driven to improve, looking at his own performance by working with the scientific community on statistical and quantifiable data, looking to improve aerodynamics, bike engineering, materials and training regimes. This would eventually lead to R&D for the British Olympic team and proved vital to their success in the 2008 and 2012 games.
Boardman is a warm and engaging writer with a great sense of humour and pacing to his stories. He knows how to tell a good anecdote and shares engaging tales of his fellow cyclists, colleagues and friends. He is passionate and honest about the sacrifices he and, especially, his family made for him to have his career and be able to focus solely on that for many years. He is self-aware about his strengths and mistakes, with an emphasis on hard work and collaboration as key to building his success.
I have little understanding of the cycling world, but Boardman explains the complexities and lore to the reader very well so that I came away with a better idea and much greater respect for the cyclists, the sport, and all the people behind the scenes who work hard to support them.
July 17, 2016
A fascinating insight into pro cycling as well as the all conquering British Cycling team, it's an open and honest book and goes way beyond the standard sports autobiography. If there was one criticism it would be that I feel issues such as drugs in cycling and the campaign to improve roads and cycling in the UK were only briefly touched upon.
September 20, 2016
Great, easy to read book. An interesting insight into the way one of GB's great athletes thinks. The balance of content from athletic career through to innovator and commentator is spot on.
If you're a cycling fan you'll love it. If you a general sports fan, it's also probably one of the better reads out there!
If you're a cycling fan you'll love it. If you a general sports fan, it's also probably one of the better reads out there!
June 30, 2016
An interesting, no-nonsense read. Covers Boardman's whole active cycling career, his work afterwards as a TV pundit, his role developing equipment for Britsh Cycling and the creation of the Boardman Bikes brand. Accessible, honest and candid, this was a perfect vacation read.
January 3, 2017
This is a very interesting book, about his (almost passive) involvement in some key cycling events and accomplishments in cycling in the past two decades. Would thoroughly recommend it.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews