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Tour of Flanders: The Inside Story. The Rocky Roads of the Ronde van Vlaanderen
The Tour of Flanders is Belgium's most brutal day in the saddle. The bike-crazed Flemish don't just send riders over cobblestone roads. Nor are they content to break the racers' legs with nearly 20 steep hills. No, the worst of all cycling worlds meet in Flanders with narrow, vertical roads paved with slippery, dangerous cobbles. The hills are so steep they are called "muurs", or walls, and they come one after another, for hours, until the riders are shattered with exhaustion. The Tour of Flanders is so fiendishly difficult that the man who wins it earns everlasting fame.
Les Woodland tells the inside story of how the Flandrians became the world's most formidable racers, and of the dream of one writer to create a signature race, one that would showcase the Flemish virtues of toughness, endurance and determination. That dream became the Tour of Flanders, one of cycling's monuments. Come join Les for a fascinating ride in the cobbled hills of Flanders.
About the
Les Woodland has been cycling for 50 years and has been writing about cycling since 1965, when he wrote his first reports for the British publication "Cycling". Since then he has been a prolific contributor to newspapers, magazines, web sites and radio stations in the U.K., the U.S. and Belgium as well as authoring more than 25 books. Mr. Woodland, who lives in France, speaks several of the languages of English, Dutch and French.
Les Woodland tells the inside story of how the Flandrians became the world's most formidable racers, and of the dream of one writer to create a signature race, one that would showcase the Flemish virtues of toughness, endurance and determination. That dream became the Tour of Flanders, one of cycling's monuments. Come join Les for a fascinating ride in the cobbled hills of Flanders.
About the
Les Woodland has been cycling for 50 years and has been writing about cycling since 1965, when he wrote his first reports for the British publication "Cycling". Since then he has been a prolific contributor to newspapers, magazines, web sites and radio stations in the U.K., the U.S. and Belgium as well as authoring more than 25 books. Mr. Woodland, who lives in France, speaks several of the languages of English, Dutch and French.
- GenresCycling
158 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2014
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10 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 13, 2016
Les Woodland is renowned for his knowledge and research and this historical look at what is arguably one of the hardest single day races can only be described as excellent.
In order to understand the Tour of Flanders or to give it the correct title, Ronde van Vlaanderen, you have to understand how it began, why it began, how World War II impacted on it and why it is held up as a must win Classic by today's professionals. Woodland presents each of these aspects in a clear, unambiguous and entertaining manner leaving the reader with a feeling of enlightenment.
My only gripe?
I wanted more than the 216 pages.
The Giant
In order to understand the Tour of Flanders or to give it the correct title, Ronde van Vlaanderen, you have to understand how it began, why it began, how World War II impacted on it and why it is held up as a must win Classic by today's professionals. Woodland presents each of these aspects in a clear, unambiguous and entertaining manner leaving the reader with a feeling of enlightenment.
My only gripe?
I wanted more than the 216 pages.
The Giant
January 28, 2014
Informative yet dull
l learned more about Belgian cycling and history. As stories go it was rather unconnected. I want to ride the route even more after reading it.
l learned more about Belgian cycling and history. As stories go it was rather unconnected. I want to ride the route even more after reading it.
October 25, 2016
I've red better books about RVV. the monuments would get my recommendation over this
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews