Tour De France For Dummies (For Dummies (Sports & Hobbies))

A Plain-english Guide To The World's Most Famous-and Grueling-bicycle Race Featuring Eight-pages Of Full-color Photos From Recent Tour De France Races, This Easy-to-follow, Entertaining Guide Demystifies The History, Strategy, Rules, Techniques, Equipment, And Competitors In What Is Arguably The Most Grueling And Intriguing Multiday, Multistage Sporting Event In The World. Cowritten By The Most Popular English-speaking Cycling Commentator On The Planet, This Book Is Great Reading For Both Experienced And The New Bicycle Racing Fans Alike.--publisher's Website. Introduction -- A Bicycle Race Unlike Any Other. Answering All Your Tour Questions -- Understand The Tour De France Race Routes -- The Races Within The Race -- How The Race Is Run And Won. It's All About The Team -- More Tour Rules Than You Ever Want To Know -- Understanding Race Strategies -- Loving The Ride: A Man And His Bike. Who Are These Guys And How Do They Do It? -- Spending A Day In The Life Of A Rider -- Having The Best Equipment In The Bunch -- Watching The Race. Perfecting The Art Of Spectating From Home -- Going To The Tour: A Brief Guide -- The Part Of Tens. Ten Greatest Riders In Tour History -- The Ten Most Important Tours In History -- Ten Unique Tour De Francde Statistics -- Ten Dramatic Tour De France Moments -- Ten Great Tour Climbs And Mountaintops -- Ten Other Important Races. Phil Liggett, James Raia, Sammarye Lewis ; Foreword By Lance Armstrong. Includes Index. Condensed to its basic premise, the Tour de France is a simple athletic contest: The cyclist who completes a strenuous and often perilous course of more than 2,000 miles in the lowest total time wins.