Clean Break

by Christophe Bassons (Artist), Benoît Hopquin (with), Peter Cossins (with)

Christophe Bassons is a former professional cyclist. His career was a successful one albeit never in the full glare of the media. That all changed when, in 1988, the Festina doping scandal broke and Bassons shot to fame as one of the handful of clean riders in the peloton - and as the only professional who dared to speak openly about the topic. Having been seen as a possible champion, his instinctive and stubborn refusal to dope saw him outstripped in physique, stamina and speed by men he'd once equalled or exceeded. His willingness to denounce the doping culture set him against the entire ethos of professional cycling: owners, management and his peers - the likes of Lance Armstrong, Richard Virenque, Christophe Moreau. A year later, Bassons' career was over. Having clashed publicly with other riders - notably with Armstrong during the 1999 Tour de France - and written in French newspapers of his disbelief and disgust, Bassons found himself exhausted and exiled - chewed up and spat out by the sport he loved.First published in French in 2000 and now updated following recent revelations from Armstrong, Tyler Hamilton and other high-profile figures, A Clean Break is unmissable reading for all cycling fans. It offers a unique and heartbreaking take on the subject.

Genres: Cycling, Nonfiction, Sports, Biography, Autobiography

320 pages, Paperback

First published July 3, 2014

Reviews

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book which gives real insight into the "mafia" like way that professional cycling has been controlled and the consequences for anyone who dares to think for themselves and express an opinion. Anyone who wants to see professional cycling clean up its act needs to read this book to get a true reflection of the hurdles in place and the fact that it is possible that not much has changed since the "Armstrong" affair.
The requirement for constant vigilance when it comes to doping is something that you come away from this book knowing is an absolute necessity. Bassons suffered a lot for his passion and his ability to take the broader view instead of homing in solely on individuals shows that he puts the good of cycling ahead of personal vengeance.

[Sara Goldenberg · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked it. It showed an interesting, different prospective of cycling at that point in time.

[José Antonio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Durante la etapa del Tour de 1999 que terminaba en la estación invernal de Sestrieres, se pudo ver un espectáculo hasta entonces muy poco común, pero que con el tiempo habría de repetirse en más de una ocasión. El líder de la carrera, Lance Armstrong, tomó personalmente el mando del pelotón para alcanzar a un modesto escapado, el francés Christophe Bassons. Tras devolverlo al seno del pelotón, el americano tuvo unas palabras nada amigables con el corredor galo, al que todos conocían como “Don Limpio” por su reiterada negativa a usar productos dopantes y su manía de contar sinceramente su punto de vista sobre lo que veía en el pelotón.
El presente libro es la historia de Bassons desde que se enroló en el ciclismo profesional; su experiencia en el escándalo del equipo Festina en 1998 que puso de manifiesto por primera vez la podredumbre que corroía el ciclismo profesional, y del que fue de los pocos que pudo salir con la cabeza bien alta; su posterior experiencia en otros equipos, su continua denuncia de unos métodos que impedían destacar a los que no pasaban por el aro del dopaje y, finalmente, su abandono del deporte de las dos ruedas ante la incomprensión y el vacío generalizado por parte de todo el mundillo.
El libro es muy interesante porque nos muestra una visión del deporte, la del autor, centrada en la superación personal completamente opuesta al ganar de cualquier manera predominante en la época de Lance Armstrong, con el que mantiene una interesante conversación en los capítulos finales. También nos enseña como las autoridades que dirigen el ciclismo profesional han sido parte siempre del problema al no estar interesados en dañar su “negocio”. Además denuncia como, escándalo tras escándalo, la pretendida renovación del ciclismo tras el caso Festina, tras el caso Armstrong, etc, nunca acaba de llegar, y seguimos viendo corredores convertidos de pronto en supercampeones por la acción de fármacos que ya no se llaman EPO sino que tienen nombres completamente desconocidos para el aficionado de a pie.
Bassons trabaja a día de hoy en las instituciones antidopaje francesas, y su visión del tema, aparte de muy completa, yo diría que es imprescindible en medio de la actual proliferación de libros sobre la cuestión surgida tras el caso Armstrong.

[Paulo · Rating 5 out of 5]

An essential reading for any cycling enthusiast. But I must warn you: it's more a book about doping than it's about cycling and sport. In fact, what we learn here is that cycling and doping are inextricably linked. Every professional sport, I'd add. Bassons himself insinuates it, but he takes great care to ensure nothing that he had not witnessed. But there is plenty of situations he did witness, and in a world where it reigns the omertá books like this are very necessary.

Bassons says that he needed to explain what doping means for cycling, how it became not only a physical imperative but also a moral obligation. Bassons, dubbed "Mr. Clean" inside the peloton, rode a l'eau claire and he always refused to faire le métier ('do the job', an euphemism to say that you have to do what it takes to win, even if it's unethical or illegal). Bassons didn't follow the example of others, he stepped out of line, he uttered a truth that no one wanted to hear, for he always made public the problem of doping, even while he was a professional rider. For all this, he was disowned and even humiliated (Armstrong in '99 Tour de France, for instance).

Bassons was employed by team Festina in 1998. Yes, Festina. And yes again, 1998. Although he was not in the race, he lived from inside the Festina affair. A direct witness of the worst cycling practices, though he has nothing to hide. Quite the opposite, he shows some resentment for the unfair milieu he had to live. With no friends, nobody spoke to him, vilified for his own teammates he ended up abandoning cycling at 27. This book is a kind of redemption for him, and very revealing to all of us.

What I like the most about this book is its courage. Bassons is not afraid to express his opinion or to name those who he has detected as cheaters. He has bad (very bad, I'd say) words for Virenque, Brochard or Hervé. And he speaks on good terms about Charly Mottet or Gilles Dellion, saying they rode too a l'eau claire (although only a few years before, that time makes a big difference concerning doping).

There are some other aspects that have caught my attention: how he thinks that the indiscriminate use of chemicals transformed personalities (he gives several examples), how he insisted on a focus on the role of team doctors as a solution to doping (I doubt very much that the solution is so simple... I'm completely sure I'll never see clean professional sports) or how he speaks about Lance Armstrong after his confession and repentance.

Either a cycling or other sport fan, you have to read this book.

[Joni Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another different story about the ProCycling Doping fiasco, and not one I was familiar with. At least not from this perspective. Inside the Festina affair. UGH. The book was translated from French to English, and some of the translations were a bit off. (Veronque's hair was dyed Blonde not gray in 1998, and he wore dyed white shoes (translation was feminine socks!). But I actually enjoyed this perspective and have lots of respect for the rider/author Bassons. Added bonus in his apres career when he took up endurance Trail running..since I too have spent more time running than riding these days.

I followed Pro Cycling like a fiend from the Indurain era on. And I followed the whole Festina/Postal/Puerto/Omerta whatever stories in disbelief as well.

It's depressing to read these stories. I am less bummed about the doping (DOPES), than the bullying and criminal behavior of the whole mess.

But this was a good read. 3 stars is mostly in the translation, made the book not flow so well, but the story was interesting and compelling.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating and ultimately rather depressing insight into pro cycle racing. First printed before Lance Armstrong finally admitted the extent of his cheating and bullying but with a later chapter added following a meeting between Basson and Armstrong who had made his life such a misery prior to his retirement.

I finished reading the book on the day Chris Froome won his 4th Tour de France and found myself watching the TV pictures with a very cynical eye finding it hard to believe that the sport has cleaned itself up rather than just staying ahead of the performance enhancing/testing methods.

I so dearly want to believe Froome is clean but I wanted to believe that about Armstrong too back in the day.

[Jertz · Rating 5 out of 5]

For anyone out there who thinks all cyclists were doping I urge you to read this book.

Not only were all cyclists NOT doping but some,including Christophe Bassons, were hounded and bullied on a daily basis by those who were.

These bullies include the biggest cheat of them all,Lance Armstrong.

This is a well written book and one of the best about the awful state of professional cycling during the Festina affairs and Operation Puerto.

Anyone with any interest in clean sport and/or cycling should read this.
You will not be disappointed.

[Fred T · Rating 2 out of 5]

I know I’m supposed to say thank you to the author for standing by his principles but I actually ended up not being a fan of his by the end of the book. It seemed to me he just went on and on about the same thing and that the book could have been half its length.
Also I felt he was cashing in on the notoriety of Lance Armstrong when in truth he should have had Virenque’s face on the cover.
His problems with the American was far less than with the Frenchman.
I’ve read better cycling books

[Danielopez · Rating 5 out of 5]

The fight of a man against a system that has taken dignity out of a beautiful sport. Bassons depicts and explains how Cycling became the race of who can dope the most, rather than who's the greatest athlete. In the end he has not been recognized as the hero he is. Who would thought that the most basic syllable would shape his whole life, 'no'. Recomended.

[Rauno Villberg · Rating 2 out of 5]

The translation is rough and it's 280 pages of a man whining about doping.
Which, hey, totally fair, but this could have been a 50-page book and achieved the same goal.

Also it ends with him somewhat buddying up to Armstrong so that left me on a sour note.

[Gandalf · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book would've gotten four stars if it weren't for the rough feeling of the translation.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating look at the drug culture that has been prevalent in pro cycling, and the impact it has on the peloton.

[David Gagen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating account of one riders commitment to race clean and the impact this had. Very well written.

[Bill Pye · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Good Look

The real cycling world hypocrisy dishonesty and distain for anyone who does not go along with collusion in the cycling drug world

[Barry Bridges · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heartfelt account of a young rider who stood against the immoral practices of the peloton. Well written, intelligent and eye opening. With the current suspicions surrounding TUEs it appears that Bassons may be right: nothing changes

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hmmm, where to start?

Firstly, this book is a horribly weight read (although this may be because of the translation from French to English), but it just doesn't flow or lend itself to a book you can pick up and knock out 100 pages easily or comfortably. It requires real concentration to read.

Secondly, this book shouldn't be titled 'A Clean Break'. Bassons has made a clean break from nothing. He claims within the book that he made a clean break from cycling, except that he still cycles now. The book should be called 'A Bitter Man'. The further you read the more this bitterness comes across. He of all people surely has every right to be bitter about how he was treated and how his career panned out after so much early promise. But to claim that you've made a break and that you're not bitter when you clearly are is perhaps not the best way to go about trying to change things.

Thirdly, he seems to imply that he was the ONLY cyclist who raced in the professional peloton that was clean. He refused to say within the book that there were other clean riders out there. When he, and the rest of us know that there were (admittedly not many of the top riders).

Fourth: He thinks it's impossible to improve your performance through training. I've never taken drugs or injections and yet I get better at a sport if I train more.

Fifth: He thinks everyone who does improve must clearly be doped.

Sixth: He's EXTREMELY anti British. Despite the amount of French riders who attacked him and who have tested positive compared to British riders he still seems to prefer them (Maybe that's just a French thing)

Seventh: There was mention of French riders who admitted doping, and he was seemingly merciful to those that did it freely. But was there mention of David Millar? Who tested positive, took his punishment and then came back to ride clean and to push for clean cycling? No.

Eighth: The chapter title "Armstrong and Me" had very little about Armstrong in it.

Ninth: His views on doping and doping control don't seem to mix with his practice of hypoxic tents. He seems to contradict himself several times.

There is no doubt that his life in cycling is interesting and the way cycling treated him nothing short of appalling. However the problems are many in this book. I'd only suggest it to a fanatical who can't see beyond the end of their nose.

[Stephanie Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eye opening!!!

All kids considering a career as a pro sportsman should read this. The public deception highlights the greed of those who enhanced their performances with drugs. How they can look themselves in the mirror astounds the imagination. Great read. Thanks Mr Bassons.

[Brian McCusker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read. An in depth account of Bassons life within the peloton and how he was forced out. Lots of background around the Festina affair and how he became the black sheep for being so vocal about not doping. Only a small reference to the minute or so that he was ostracized by Armstrong at Sestriere and a section about their meeting after Armstrongs confession.
The book left me with a lot more questions about the late 90's but it went some way to showing strong the code was within the milieu.

[Steve Haigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent but sad read. Not a classic, he does tend to hammer home his point a bit and occasionally the dates jump around a little, but never the less an easy read. It's not exactly enjoyable, as he blows away any remaining faith you may have in pro cycling, but at least there is a happy ending for the author, he seems to have found happiness away from pro cycling and still manages to convey a love of the sport itself.

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read. Quite a revealing analysis of the culture of silence and doping within the cycling world. It has a very sobering effect in that it takes the gloss off cycling and leaves you disappointed with the state of the sport. The upside is the struggle of Bassons and how his resilience shines through even after his professional career is over.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely gives an interesting insight to the doping culture in the world of cycling. If you're clean then you'll have a hard fight on your hands. I guess that's the main idea that the author presented. NEvertheless, it was an interesting read and I think there will be more of these types of books in the not so distant future.

[Adam Yates · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting viewpoint of doping and drug taking from a rider who never won a major race stage but is that because of his stance on drugs or just the extent of his natural ability? However I didn't connect with it as much as I'd hope and most if not all of the riders were unknown to me.

[Harry · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a fan of Le Tour I was looking forward to this insiders account of what was going on prior to the Festina affair and ultimately the disgrace of Lance Armstrong. However it's a very dry account and a little dull to read. There's no great revelations here.

[Gary Morris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read

[Jeremy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A shocking expose of professional cycling