The Racer
The Inside Story of Life on the Road
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Vintage Publishing
Published:5th May '16
£12.99
Available to order, but very limited on stock - if we have issues obtaining a copy, we will let you know.
A unique and powerful insight into the mind of a professional cyclist in his last year before retirement, from British cyclist David Millar, writer of the bestselling Racing Through the Dark.
David Millar offers us a unique insight into the mind of a professional cyclist during his last year before retirement. Over the course of a season on the World Tour, Millar puts us in touch with the sights, smells and sounds of the sport.
What is it really like to be a racer?
What is it like to be swept along at 60kmh in the middle of the pack? What happens to the body during a high-speed chute? What tactics must teams employ to win the day, the jersey, the grand tour? What sacrifices must a cyclist make to reach the highest levels? What is it like on the bus? In the hotels? What camaraderie is built in the confines of a team? What rivalries? How does it feel to be constantly on the road, away from loved ones, tasting one more calorie-counted hotel breakfast?
David Millar offers us a unique insight into the mind of a professional cyclist during his last year before retirement. Over the course of a season on the World Tour, Millar puts us in touch with the sights, smells and sounds of the sport. This is a book about youth and age, fresh-faced excitement and hard-earned experience. It is a love letter to cycling.
'Cycling has always been about a great deal more than its winners, and The Racer is quite a ride' Spectator
David Millar's book takes you inside the sport of cycling while also emphasising the absurdity of it. It's quite rare for a sportsman to be so immersed and yet able to detach themselves from it all ... The parts on crashing are amazing. I felt frightened and sore reading it -- Richard Moore, author of Slaying the Badger
Cycling has always been about a great deal more than its winners, and The Racer is quite a ride -- Jon Day * Spectator *
What’s it really like to be a professional bike racer? David Millar gives you an unparalleled insight -- Colin Henrys * Road Cycling UK *
A love letter to the simple pleasure of riding a bike, and a very well-written one at that -- Jamie Beach * Bike Radar *
Millar's love for what he did, and the curious world he inhabited for 18 years, shines through his prose * Scotsman *
Poignant, articulate and at times very funny -- Alasdair Fotheringham * Independent *
This exceptional title is a must for anyone (which includes me) who doesn’t quite understand the psychology of a professional cyclist. -- Graham Watson * Cycle Sport *
A fascinating insight into the life of a seasoned pro cyclist… I doubt that many riders could make such a story as readable and informative as Millar. * Road.cc *
- Winner of Cross Sports Book Awards - Cycling Book of the Year 2016 (UK)
ISBN: 9780224100083
Dimensions: 198mm x 129mm x 20mm
Weight: 225g
320 pages