Vive le Tour!: Amazing Tales from the World's Greatest Bike Race

by Nick Brownlee

Millions of spectators line the route every year with some having camped a week in advance to get the best views of one of the greatest annual sporting events and the world's best-known cycling race—the Tour de France. In this absorbing collection of facts and anecdotes, Nick Brownlee covers the history, present, and future of this fascinating world. Details include the highs and lows, winners and losers, and triumphs and tragedies of this fast-paced and exciting sport.

Genres: Cycling

208 pages, Paperback

First published September 28, 2007

Reviews

[Bob Jenkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Vive le Tour Wiggo and the Amazing Tales of the Tour de France" by Nick Brownlee is a delightful compilation of short, fascinating facts about the iconic Tour de France. While it's perfect for quick reads on the throne, offering bite-sized doses of cycling history, it might not satisfy elsewhere due to its format. Brownlee's collection serves as a convenient companion for brief escapes into the world of cycling lore, making it the ideal toilet book for any Tour de France enthusiast.

[Rik Brooymans · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good read for those with an interest in all things Tour de France. I have to say I found the coverage of the first few decades a little boring and mildly repetitive, something like the middle part of a long, flat stage. My interest peaked with the chapters on those Tours I remember watching when I was a kid, with the feats of Lemond and Indurain. The last few chapters did nothing to mitigate the anger I've built up against the legions of cheaters who have brought disgrace to the event and my memories of it. But i guess the overarching theme of the book - if there is one - is that the Tour has always, always been plagued by cheaters, and in the 100 plus years it has been running, there have been very few contenders, and many fewer champions, that likely finished the race without some mechanical or chemical assistance. Definitely not a book to stoke your love of the sport, even though I suspect the author's intentions were just the opposite.

As a side note, the version of the book I have is updated with coverage up to 2013, while I suspect the original edition covered only up to 2007. The added chapters are almost comical in the quality of the editing. If I pulled out a red pen and started circling errors, I would likely run out of ink.

[George P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating (to a cycling enthusiast) info on the whole 100+ year history of the Tour, the 3rd most watched sporting event (the top 2 are the Olympics and World Cup soccer, NOT the Super Bowl),

[Francis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read, although the editors missed quite a few spelling errors.

[Branko · Rating 5 out of 5]

On of my absolute favorits! Oh the thrill, the drama, the passion! Vive le tour!

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

amazing stories of total lunatics