Lemond: The Incredible Comeback of an American Hero

by Samuel Abt

A miraculous storybook account of how Greg LeMond fought his way back from death's door against all odds, to win the world's most popular sporting event, the Tour de France. With millions of passionate fans watching, LeMond made an incredible record-shattering comeback on the final day of the tour, ignoring pain and medical advice to complete his quest to win the 2,000 mile, 23-day race. Photographs.

Genres: Sports, Cycling, Biography

206 pages, Hardcover

First published June 16, 1990

About the author

Samuel Raphael Abt was an American sports journalist and author who covered professional cycling for 31 years, publishing articles in the New York Times and International Herald Tribune, among others. He devoted much time to chronicling the careers of English-speaking riders, especially Lance Armstrong and Greg LeMond.

Reviews

[Ron · Rating 3 out of 5]

A true American cycling hero!

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good book. After Lance Armstrong broke my heart last year, it was good to read about a real American cycling hero. Greg LaMond was the first (and I believe now still the only) American to win the Tour de France. He won it three times - 1986, 1989 and 1990. In between his 1986 and 1989 wins, he had to recover from accidentally being shot by his brother-in-law while hunting; he came within 20 minutes of dying from the loss of blood. Other ups and downs occurred during this difficult recovery, but he pulled through it all and won the Tour. Amazing. He was World Champion in 1983 and again in 1989 (after the shooting). The author of the book seems to know the LeMond family well and his writing spans a number of years. This book was written in 1990, before Greg won his third Tour de France. If you like cycling and want to feel a little bit of redemption for Americans in the sport, read this book. Greg LaMond was the real thing.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting book about a great American athlete.

[Guy McArthur · Rating 3 out of 5]

Covering Lemond's life up to his 2nd TdF and 2nd world championship win, it is a great story but the writing seems rushed.