Inside the Tour de France

This book was written over 10 years ago, first published in 1994. It is composed of thirteen chapters with each chapter devoted to a different cyclist and their particular relationship with the Tour de France.There are two things that make this book fascinating from a historical perspective and give it modern day relevance.The first is that its written by David Walsh, a leading sports journalist with the English newspaper, the Sunday Times. Walsh in recent years has devoted a significant part of his journalistic life to exposing drug use in sport and particularly cycling. The book was written before revelations of systematic doping became evident in professional cycling and as such presents Walsh's view of professional cycling before these revelations were in the public domain - quite ironic then that the book is called "Inside the Tour de France" when there are no references to drug use.The second thing that makes this book interesting is the first chapter - called "The Neophyte's Tale - Lance Armstrong". This chapter provides quotes from the young Armstrong, then in his first full season and first (1993) Tour competing with the Motorola team. Given that 10 years later Armstrong is going for a record sixth win in the Tour and Walsh has just written and had published the controversial "LA Confidential" this chapter has a eerie resonance to it and its worth buying the book for this chapter alone.