＂If Alpe d’Huez was a rigorous climb, with its mathematical progression of tight corners and steep inclines, the Izoard is far more awesome, a rocky wilderness at 7,743 feet, which needs only a
few bleached skulls at the roadside to complete its sense of desolation.＂
Geoffrey Nicholson’s The Great Bike Race is universally revered by modern cycling critics as the benchmark English-language volume of the sport and has risen to mythical status. It was the
first book in English to tell the entire story of a full tour and truly captivates the reader from start to finish. Nicholson’s classic, vivid descriptions of the racing, the personalities,
tactics and intrigues of the 1976 race are rotated with insightful thematic chapters where he lifts the lid on the broader culture and lengthy traditions of cycling’s most famous race and the
greatest annual sports event in the world.
On the 40th anniversary of the race and original first publication, Velodrome Publishing is most honored to republish and celebrate this seminal cycling tome as the launch volume in the
‘Vintage Velodrome’ series of titles.
REVIEWS
“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
It’s one of the best books of cycling ever written. For people starting adventure with cycling will be a great and colorful guide to the nuances of the sport, and those more familiar, there are
many interesting stories from the old days. This combined with the excellent pen Nicholson creates an unusual atmosphere of ＂The Great Bicycle Race＂. A must have! -- Rowery.Org (Poland)
Nicholson remains unequalled in his ability to relate the experience of travelling as part of the great caravan, a sympathetic chronicler of the riders in their moments of glory, humiliation
and mundanity. Conveying the sense of travelling through the country’s contrasting regions with acute powers of observation but the lightest of touches, he also set an important example to
later generations of reporters. In 40 years, not much has changed beyond the technical details. Carbon fibre and lycra may have replaced steel and wool, but the race retains much of the
distinctive etiquette he describes so vividly and amusingly. -- The Guardian
