The call of the road : the history of cycle road racing

Since the invention of the bicycle, people have raced them. The advent of the pneumatic tyre meant that these races could take place on any road in any country – cycle road racing was born. In just over a century the Tour de France has become the most watched sporting event and the Giro d'Italia, Vuela d'Espagne and Spring Classics are expanding to fill the entire year with competitions which are watched by millions of fans, and the routes are cycled by hundreds of thousands of amateurs keen to discover what it is like to ride 200 arduous kilometres in one day, in some cases over the steepest of routes. Intertwined with these competitions is the history and, most importantly, the characters who have graced the road cycling stage. Merckx, Indurain, Coppi, Pantani, Binda, Rominger and Hinault are names that have been raised to mythical status. The Call of the Road reveals the epic battles of all of the racing seasons since the first Tour de France – looking beyond the results to see... Eddy Merckx. Fausto Coppi. Jacques Anquetil. Bernard Hinault. Beryl Burton. Marianne Vos. A sole cyclist battling over a pass high in the mountains is one of the most romantic of sporting images. In the past 150 years road cycling has been dominated by a series of iconic people who have redefined endurance and fortitude. Every decade has pushed human limits, until limits were extended by inhuman pharmacology. And these battles have not been fought over just one race, but an annual series beginning with the Spring Classics and then culminating in the three great tours - the Giro d'Italia, Vuelta d'Espagne and the Tour de France - before the cyclists retire to lick their wounds and start on another winter of training. The Call of the Road is the definitive story of cycle road racing, from the first race in 1868 to the present day. It is a story that has never been told as the professionals experience it - as a whole energy-sapping year. It looks at the beginning and development of the sport, it explains the tactics and looks at the different physical types that succeed. It explains why some nations have dominated this sport and why, until recently, British riders have underperformed. It also looks at the way the great races were founded and developed, and how the great riders stamped their authority on them through the ages. Sidwells doesn't shy away from controversy: dissecting the vexed and seemingly ever-present question of doping. The final chapter brings the story of road racing completely up to date with insight into jiffy bags and salbutamol levels. Truly international in scope, looking at road racing in North and Latin America, Australia, Africa and Asia, as well as continental Europe, The Call of the Road is essential reading for anyone who is interested in the history, tactics or personalities of cycle road racing "Since the invention of the bicycle, people have raced them. The advent of the pneumatic tyre meant that these races could take place on any road in any country - and cycle road racing was born. In just over a century, the Tour de France has become the most watched sporting event and the Giro d'Italia, Vuela d'Espagne and Spring Classics are expanding. These routes are cycled by hundreds of thousands of amateurs, keen to discover what it is like to ride 200 arduous kilometres in one day, in some cases over the steepest of routes. Intertwined with these competitions is the history and characters who have graced the road cycling stage. Merckx, Indurain, Coppi, Pantani, Binda, Rominger and Hinault are names that have been raised to mythical status. The book reveals the epic battles of each racing season since the first Tour de France, looking beyond the results to see the drama - not just on the road but within the teams and between individuals - and the politics and scandal that continue to fascinate cycle road race fans everywhere."--Provided by publisher Eddy Merckx. Fausto Coppi. Jacques Anquetil. Bernard Hinault. Beryl Burton. Marianne Vos. Since the first road race in May 1869, revealed here for the very first time, cycle road racing has been dominated by iconic cyclists who redefined endurance and fortitude. The battles facing these cyclists are not fought over just one race, but an annual series beginning with the Spring Classics and culminating in the three great tours – the Giro d'Italia, Vuelta a España and the Tour de France – before the cyclists retire to lick their wounds and start on another winter of training. How were the great races founded and developed? How have the great riders stamped their authority on them through the ages? Truly international in scope, looking at road racing in North and Latin America, Australia, Africa and Asia, as well as continental Europe, The Call of the Road is essential reading for anyone who is interested in the history, tactics or personalities of cycle road racing.