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The Great Bike Race: The classic, acclaimed book that introduced a nation to the Tour de France
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This is unquestionably the finest book ever written on the subject of cycling, bar none. the combination of the late Geoffrey Nicholson's (he died in 1999) observations, coupled with an impeccable writing style, make “the great bike race” almost a complete education in and of itself "
— The Washing-Machine Post
This is unquestionably the finest book ever written on the subject of cycling, bar none. the combination of the late Geoffrey Nicholson's (he died in 1999) observations, coupled with an impeccable writing style, make “the great bike race” almost a complete education in and of itself "
— The Washing-Machine Post
- GenresCycling
240 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 24, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 26, 2020
Even though I have been an avid cyclist for many years and usually watch the Tour de France on TV, this is the first book I have read written specifically about it. Despite having no other work on the subject to compare it to, I can't possibly image that this book is “...the finest book ever written on the subject of cycling, bar none,” as mentioned in the Goodreads description. Possibly in 1976, but not today. This book definitely didn't break any new ground for me. Perhaps if you are someone who knows very little about cycling, or maybe never ridden a bike and has never heard about the Tour de France, this book may be of some value. For instance, did you know that “As a cyclist rides along his power is transmitted by a chain wheel attached to his pedals...?”
Since this book was originally written over 40 years ago many of the details presented about the tour are seriously out of date. I found the day by day account of the lack luster 1976 edition of the tour to be irrelevant and boring. Little was mentioned about the agony and suffering endured by the cyclist riding in the tour – which is possibly the only thing that has remained constant since the tour's inception. If you want to read a timeless classic and gain a real insight to bike racing I suggest “The Rider” by Tim Krabbe.
Since this book was originally written over 40 years ago many of the details presented about the tour are seriously out of date. I found the day by day account of the lack luster 1976 edition of the tour to be irrelevant and boring. Little was mentioned about the agony and suffering endured by the cyclist riding in the tour – which is possibly the only thing that has remained constant since the tour's inception. If you want to read a timeless classic and gain a real insight to bike racing I suggest “The Rider” by Tim Krabbe.
March 2, 2024
Really loved the first half or so, the author's first experiences covering the Tour and just the atmosphere of those 1976 races... a different time, for sure (and for my 2024 tastes, mostly not for the better, don't get me wrong!) Some really enjoyable prose in those bits too!
Eventually gets mired down in the minutia of specific stages and riders in chronological order, which is to be expected but mostly glides off my smooth brain. Though if a book was written the same way about the 2023 Tour I would have much less of a problem with that thanks to already being familiar with all the riders that make up the bulk of the peloton, so I acknowledge that it's a "me" problem, partly.
Eventually gets mired down in the minutia of specific stages and riders in chronological order, which is to be expected but mostly glides off my smooth brain. Though if a book was written the same way about the 2023 Tour I would have much less of a problem with that thanks to already being familiar with all the riders that make up the bulk of the peloton, so I acknowledge that it's a "me" problem, partly.
July 18, 2021
Read in the midst of le tour in 2021. Didn’t realize the book was so old, reviewing the tour in 1976. Provides some good, yet outdated stories about riders and teams I have no clue about. It also had to be a tour in which Eddie Merckx took off.
September 12, 2024
A bit dated but interesting.
July 11, 2025
Nothing spectacular. Unlike the race.
February 17, 2017
An enjoyable read, great description of the events surrounding the TdF and of the characters/riders involved. The alternative chapter format in which stages are described in odd numbered chapters and background in even numbered chapters is particularly good.
September 24, 2016
Recently re-issued, this was first published in 1977. For most of the book, odd-numbered chapters follow the 1976 Tour de France. The other chapters outline the history of the Tour, describe the team and rider strategies, and give background to some of the key riders. I've never read about the Tour, and apart from recent interest due to British riders, haven't really followed it before.
It's really well written, and though not gripping (unlike Tim Krabbé's The Rider, for example), I was gradually drawn in, and my reading pace picked up with the excitement of the race itself.
A great introduction to the Tour, and to multi-stage cycle racing I reckon. 9/10.
It's really well written, and though not gripping (unlike Tim Krabbé's The Rider, for example), I was gradually drawn in, and my reading pace picked up with the excitement of the race itself.
A great introduction to the Tour, and to multi-stage cycle racing I reckon. 9/10.
September 13, 2017
As a more recent convert to both cycling and the Tour de France, I found this book contained some interesting writing and expanded my knowledge of the history of the great bike race, but I'm not sure I see what others do to rate it so highly.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews