On Tour

by Bradley Wiggins

'There is me trailing home 131st and, for all I know, I might be a top 50 rider if we all started on a level playing field . . . Bollocks to you all. You are a bunch of cheating bastards. At least I can look myself in the mirror.'Bradley Wiggins contemplates Floyd Landis testing positive for testosterone in the 2006 Tour de FranceThe 2010 account will be an instant book published in the autumn following the Tour. Part day-by-day diary it will also include wider, deeper reflections on the history of the Tour, famous figures, etc, and be illustrated with Scott Mitchell's atmospheric, black and white photography. The Tour has featured in Wiggins's 2008 autobiography, but really only in the light of a scandal he was caught up in. The emphasis of that book was very much on his childhood, his father and track cycling at the Olympics; here, Wiggins' new found love of road racing, and its pinnacle, the Tour de France, take centre stage, particularly the gruelling 2010 race, which although played out somewhat in the shadow of his high finish in 2009, was nevertheless an exemplary exercise in true grit, and fighting spirit against the odds.

Genres: Cycling

192 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 2010

Reviews

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rouleur inspired, informal wedding style black and white photos of the 2010 tour interspersed with candid commentary from Wiggins on his race and his general outlook. Wiggins love for old style bike racing comes out (and informs his deliberately retro photos, and occasionally some clichéd tour stories e.g. Eugene Christophe) as does his growing realisation that Sky’s approach was too serious and inward focused losing the informality with fans and fellow riders of their Giro.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

A photo montage and account of Wiggns's 2010 Tour de France.

The photos are all in B&W and are beautifully composed and selected, giving some of the magic of the tour, and the behind the scenes detail that you get from a photographer who is allowed access all areas.

It was a tough tour for Wiggins, as he did not get to the same position as the 2009 tour, and his account of the pain and suffering that he went through is humbling.

Great photos, great account, great read!"

[Barry Bridges · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's like having Brad phoen you every night instead of Cath and telling you how his day went on the 2010 Tour De France. A really good book and some excellent photographs!!